Football
Mark Rodden 8y

Thomas Muller is unpredictable - Germany's Ilkay Gundogan

Bayern Munich and Germany star Thomas Muller is so effective because it is impossible for opponents to predict what he will do next, according to Borussia Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan.

Muller, 26, scored twice as Bayern  beat Dortmund 5-1 on Sunday, bringing his total to 11 for the season in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.

The attacker also scored three goals in Germany's wins over Poland and Scotland last month and he will be a focal point again as the world champions take on Republic of Ireland in their penultimate Euro 2016 qualifier on Thursday.

The world champions will seal qualification for next year's European Championship by picking up at least one point on their trip to Dublin.

Speaking ahead of that game, Dortmund midfielder Gundogan, 24, said that, having watched Muller punish his side on Sunday, he was in a good position to judge why the Bayern player is so hard to stop.

"As an opponent you never know exactly what Thomas Muller is going to do in the next instant," he told a news conference at the Germany team's base.

"You can prepare for some players a bit. With Thomas Muller that's absolutely not the case. You have no idea what he's going to do in the next second and as a defender it's really difficult to stop.

"It's not for nothing that he's labelled a phenomenon so for both Bayern and for the national team he's extremely important."

Centre-back Jerome Boateng also said his Bayern and Germany team mate was a nightmare to defend against.

"Like Ilkay, I think Thomas is very hard to predict," he said of Muller. "He's extremely dangerous in the penalty area.

"He's good on his left or his right, strong in the air and in his way he's unique. That's what makes him very important.

"He's had a super start to the season so we hope he can keep that form going."

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