'We are on our way up' – Muller confident Whitecaps will bounce back after MLS Cup defeat

Thomas Muller is confident the Vancouver Whitecaps are "on their way up" despite their heart-breaking 3-1 defeat to Inter Miami in the MLS Cup final.

The Whitecaps surged past FC Dallas, Los Angeles FC and San Diego FC to claim the Western Conference crown, but their remarkable run came to an end against Lionel Messi and his star-studded team-mates. 

Edier Ocampo's early own goal put Vancouver on the back foot, though Ali Ahmed hauled them level on the hour mark with a composed finish.

But despite their best efforts, it was not to be for the Whitecaps as Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende sealed Miami's maiden MLS Cup title with goals late on.

Indeed, it is not a feeling Muller is used to. The German veteran had won 10 of the 14 finals he had contested before Saturday and boasts a record 35 career titles.

But even in defeat, he believes the Whitecaps are only going to improve and get stronger from here.

"We are on our way up," the World Cup winner told reporters after the final.

"We have a young group, very young group, very talented group, and very hungry group. And you know how it is with the big losses, that gains a lot of energy for the future.

"Obviously, we are very sad, especially the boys. They are many years in this league and MLS Cup title would have meant so much for them. They were working so hard to get this chance. They suffer now, a lot, a lot.

"It's tough, you could imagine. But I think, and when we talk about it, it hurts for a while. But I think we will get up and we will show up next season.

"I'm here since August, so it was the last chapter of the season. I think the boys, they did a great job to the point I joined in, and even better after. I enjoyed it a lot to be part of this whole environment.

"It was not only fun. We could be proud to be part of this process, so we will come back stronger next season, even stronger."

Muller took little time to adjust to the pace of MLS and endear himself to the Vancouver faithful upon his arrival in the summer.

In total, he contributed nine goals and four assists from 13 matches across competitions as the Whitecaps finished as runners-up in both the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the MLS Cup.

"We play with our hearts. Nobody plays a perfect soccer game," the German added.

"We don't do it even in our good games, but we gave it all, and that's what matters the most, and the way we do it, the respect we have also, not only for the fans, also for the whole city, for the people in the city.

"So, we are a very lovable team, and we will continue this journey how we do it, and I hope we will work very hard that we get next year, a little bit more trophies."

The former Bayern Munich man was also full of praise for the city of Vancouver, appreciating how a city long rooted in hockey culture rallied behind the Whitecaps during their play-off push.

"It's so nice to hear that we created in a city like Vancouver, a hockey city. We created the buzz we wanted to create when we talked about it two or three months ago, and that this happened.

"That's very nice to experience that by myself and with the group. I also think the connection between the fans and the club and the players was almost – I wasn't there in the past, so I don't know, but it feels that it was as close as it can get at the moment.

"So, we were happy for every support, and I hope the buzz continues next season."