Radio Müller in English? 'I need to become better'

Former Bayern Munich great Thomas Müller is settling into his new life at the Vancouver Whitecaps but admits he has to improve his English as he approaches his planned Major League Soccer debut on Sunday.

The 35-year-old was known at previous club Bayern Munich as Radio Müller for his almost constant communication with team-mates on the pitch.

But he admitted to dpa that doing the same in English all the time at his new club will require some practice.

"To be honest, I am still in a process of adapting, or becoming better," he said.

"I get along but it is only logical that you have to think a little longer about one word or another, and that's not necessarily useful on the football pitch."

Müller added he already got used to it in his final year in Munich because coach Vincent Kompany gave his instructions in English.

Former World Cup winner Müller arrived in Canada in mid-week, has moved into an apartment and had first training at the Whitecaps, who are only his second club as a pro, after spending 25 years at Bayern.

"I am trying to settle in as quickly as possible, to integrate myself - regardless of the fact that the season is already in its final third," Müller said.

The forward added he is happy that he can continue playing golf, one of his pastimes off the pitch, saying: "They have one or two groups here, so I'm in good hands for now."

Müller says he wants to explore the city and the region when time and the weather allows it, but that "first of all it is about football."

Müller, who kept fit at Bayern's training ground, is set to make his MLS debut on Sunday when the Whitecaps host Houston Dynamo, coach Jesper Sörensen has confirmed.

"He will be in the squad and he will be on the pitch. For how long we will find out. We won't be doing anything stupid," Sörensen said.