'We can trust our mentality' – Muller confident ahead Vancouver's conference final

Thomas Muller believes the Vancouver Whitecaps can "count on" their resilient mentality during their Western Conference final against San Diego FC.

The two sides are set to go head-to-head on Saturday for a place in the MLS Cup showpiece, where they will face either Inter Miami or New York City FC.

San Diego finished level on points with Vancouver in the West, but pipped them to top spot with a 4-0 win over the Portland Timbers on Decision Day, while the Whitecaps lost 2-1 to FC Dallas.

Anders Dreyer's lone goal helped San Diego defeat Minnesota United in the conference semi-finals, whereas Vancouver overcame Los Angeles FC on penalties.

It has very much been a team performance from the Whitecaps in the postseason so far.

Eleven different Vancouver players have been involved in a goal in this season’s playoffs, with six different players scoring the six goals.

The Whitecaps are the third team in MLS history to have 11 or more players contribute to a goal in a single postseason (Los Angeles Galaxy – 12 in 2024, Columbus Crew – 11 in 2023).

Muller explained why his experience may not have an impact against San Diego and how Vancouver's team spirit will.

When asked if Vancouver's experience of winning trophies would help them, Muller responded: "Maybe, we don't know yet. That is always the problem with ideas or thoughts about upcoming games.

"When it works out for them, you can say 'they were not thinking about it, they were just fresh and young'. So, we don't know.

"We try to focus on our own game, what we did well against LAFC, and maybe what things we missed in the second half.

"But what we know we can count on is for sure our mentality. Coming back so many times this season, I think we can trust our mentality and also our team spirit.

"So that is a big positive for us, but I think it comes down to normal things like our habits, our behaviour, our positioning.

"It's a big game for sure, and we will try to enjoy it, enjoy the atmosphere, and I'm excited to go to San Diego and play this game."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

San Diego FC – Anders Dreyer

Dreyer's winning goal in the conference semi-final was his 43rd goal contribution (23 goals, 20 assists) this season (regular season and playoffs).

He has now moved ahead of Josef Martinez's 42 from 2018 and into third all-time for direct goal involvements in a single MLS season (Lionel Messi – 61 in 2025, Carlos Vela – 52 in 2019).

Vancouver Whitecaps – Thomas Muller

Since arriving in the league from Bayern Munich, Muller has scored eight goals and provided three assists in 10 MLS games for Vancouver.

He is also one of their six scorers in the playoffs this season, finding the back of the net in their Game 1 win over Dallas.

MATCH PREDICTION – SAN DIEGO FC WIN

San Diego are the second expansion team in MLS history to reach the conference final in their first season, after Chicago in 1998.

They have won all three of their home playoff matches after winning just two of their final 10 matches in all competitions at home entering the postseason (D2 L6).

San Diego recorded a 5-3 victory at Vancouver on June 25 before the Whitecaps earned a 1-1 draw at Snapdragon Stadium on July 19.

Milan Iloski, who is now at the Philadelphia Union, scored four of San Diego’s five goals in the road win in June, the only four-goal performance ever allowed by the Whitecaps in an MLS match.

Vancouver have reached the first conference final in club history following back-to-back penalty shootout wins over Dallas and LAFC. No team in MLS history has won three shootouts within a single postseason.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

San Diego FC – 44.2%

Draw – 26.8%

Vancouver Whitecaps – 29%