Portland Timbers head coach Phil Neville cited Thomas Muller as the perfect role model for young players in MLS.
Neville’s Portland team go up against Muller and the Vancouver Whitecaps in a Cascadia derby this weekend.
Muller joined Vancouver last year after ending his long stay at Bayern Munich, where he won 13 Bundesliga titles, as well as twice lifting the Champions League trophy.
The 36-year-old also counts a World Cup in his honours list, and he made a fantastic start to life in MLS.
In 14 games in the competition, Muller has netted 10 goals, providing three assists. He helped Vancouver reach the MLS Cup final last season, which the Whitecaps lost to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.
And Neville is delighted to see the likes of Messi and Muller still striving for success in the United States.
He said: “When these absolute superstars come to this league, what I absolutely love, even if they’re not playing for Portland Timbers, is how much they want to win.
“You saw it with Muller last season, driving the Whitecaps to the MLS Cup final. We watched the Florida derby the other day – Messi, [Rodrigo] De Paul – these are players that have won everything in the game but the intensity and fight to win a game of football is inspiring for MLS players.
“In the past, there’s been a misconception of players coming here for retirement. Players are coming here to win. That shows the level of player, their absolute mentality.
“It’s a great example to every young player in this league – that’s the level you have to have, regardless of what you’ve done in the game or got in your bank account. That mentality never leaves you.
“That’s something we’re trying to put into this young group. We’re going to be fearless, take risks and play with that kind of mentality.
“Find a way to win, do all you can to be successful in the game. We’ve seen that over the time I’ve been here and I’m super proud. We just need more consistency on that mentality bit.”
A Cascadia night under the lights
Be there https://t.co/gmWCrro5wX pic.twitter.com/9zPPYogoXJ
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) March 6, 2026
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Portland Timbers – Felipe Mora
Mora has scored five goals for Portland in 12 regular-season matches against the Whitecaps, only scoring more against the LA Galaxy (eight).
His five goals are tied with Diego Valeri for the most by a Portland player against the Whitecaps in regular-season MLS play.
Vancouver Whitecaps – Brian White
Since joining Vancouver in 2021, Brian White has six goals in 10 appearances against Portland, while Ryan Gauld has five goals in 10 games against the Timbers.
The only other player with as many goals against Portland in that time is Raul Ruidiaz (five in 10 games).
MATCH PREDICTION: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN
Vancouver have opened their season with back-to-back shutout wins for the second time in club history (2012).
The only two teams in MLS history to open a season with three straight wins while not allowing a goal were the Seattle Sounders in 2009 and the Galaxy in 2010.
Portland have lost only three of their last 17 regular-season home matches dating back to last March (W8 D6). The Timbers have managed consecutive home league wins just once since the start of last year, doing so in May.
Vancouver are unbeaten in four straight meetings with Portland in all competitions (W2 D2), equalling their longest unbeaten run in the MLS era of the rivalry.
The Whitecaps had a win and a draw against Portland last season, making it the first calendar year since 2018 that the Timbers did not beat Vancouver at least once.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Portland Timbers – 30.2%
Draw – 24.9%
Vancouver Whitecaps – 44.9%