Getty | Tom Hindle
Mar 21, 2026 04:53+06:00
'It will be special to face him' - San Jose Earthquakes star Timo Werner anticipates high-profile clash with former Germany teammate Thomas Müller
Timo Werner admitted it will be a special meeting when his San Jose Earthquakes face off against Thomas Müller's Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday. The duo shared the pitch consistently for Germany and have clashed at the highest levels in Europe on numerous occasions. Werner has tallied two assists in three appearances since signing for San Jose last month.
Getty Images Sport
Facing an old foe
Werner highlighted their long history as he looked ahead to facing Müller. "I’ve known Thomas for a long time, and he’s a great guy," Werner said. "He’s had tremendous success throughout his career and has continued that with Vancouver. Even now, he’s still a fantastic player. I’m really looking forward to seeing him again and competing against him.
"We’ve shared great moments as teammates and tough battles as opponents, so it’ll be special to face him once more. Hopefully, we can come out on top."
Getty Images Sport
A longstanding friendship
Müller and Werner shared the pitch 23 times for Germany. "With the national team, we experienced ups and downs. When I joined, he was already a World Cup winner. It was a challenging period at times, but we still achieved success," Werner recalled. "We won the Confederations Cup together and shared crucial experiences. Off the pitch, he’s wonderful to be around. We had a lot of fun—I remember often sitting near each other on the bus during World Cups and European Championships. Those were really good times."
Getty
A strong start for San Jose
Werner’s Quakes have enjoyed a strong start under Bruce Arena. Despite losing star Designated Player Cristian Espinoza in the winter, they have retooled effectively and sit fourth in the Western Conference with three wins and one loss. Werner assisted in each of his first two appearances and delivered a solid performance against the Seattle Sounders last week.
ENJOYED THIS STORY? Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
(C)Getty Images
Müller's Whitecaps among the favorites
Vancouver is widely considered a top contender for the MLS Cup. They reached the final last year, pushing Inter Miami in a 3-1 defeat in Fort Lauderdale. Currently top of the West with four wins, they have scored 14 goals while conceding only one. Müller has found the net twice so far this season.
'It Will Be Special to Face Him' – San Jose Earthquakes Star Timo Werner Anticipates High-Profile Clash with Former Germany Teammate Thomas Müller
