Better than Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala? Bayern Munich midfielder told he is 'blessed by God' as ex-assistant believes teenager has 'more talent than anyone else on the planet'

The 71-year-old, who spent over 20 years working at Bayern, has heaped praise on 19-year-old midfielder and winger Paul Wanner, who came through the club's youth system and spent last season on loan at fellow Bundesliga side Heidenheim.

Wanner, who decided against joining Bayern for their Club World Cup campaign in order to play with Germany at the Under 21 European Championship this summer, has only made eight senior appearances for Bayern - the last one coming in February 2023. However, Germany U21 assistant coach Gerland says he should have played many more times for the Bundesliga champions by now, claiming he has the talent to surpass stars like incoming Liverpool player Wirtz and Bayern superstar Musiala.

During an interview with Bild, Gerland said: "Let me tell you this, if I had had the talent Paul has back then, I would have played about 100 games for Bayern Munich by the age of 19."

He continued with an anecdote: "Paul was once in the dressing room during a Bayern Munich game. I grabbed him and talked to him about a game against Heidenheim's A-youth team that Paul had played in and that we had lost: 'Listen, kid: You have to decide this game! With your skills, you have to ask Heidenheim: How many goals should I score, how many do you want? Three, four or five?'

"Thomas Muller, who had heard this, said to me: 'Hey Tiger [Gerland's nickname], there's no need for that. Don't be so hard on the boy!' But I had to do it. I had to be tough on him. Someone had to tell him the truth!

"The skills Paul has are incredible. In training, he puts the ball in the net four times with his left foot and then five times with his right. I want to say: everyone is the architect of their own fortune. And Paul has been blessed by God with more talent than almost anyone else on this planet. Maybe Wirtz and Musiala – it's entirely up to him. Paul has to keep pushing!"

Wanner is under contract in Munich until 2027 and could theoretically still play for Austria despite currently representing Germany at youth level. He has now played three international matches for the German U21 team, scoring one goal. They face Slovenia in the U21 European Championship on Thursday.