Jupp Heynckes:
What does the Champions League final mean to you personally?
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t special. We’re all really looking forward to it, including me personally. I sense the same thing from the players, their statements, their gestures, the mood and the atmosphere. We’re all focused on the final and gearing up for it.”
Bayern and Dortmund know each other well. Can one of the teams still surprise the other?
“The teams know each other extremely well and the coaches are fully informed about the opposing players. There are no secrets and there won’t be any tactical surprises. A final is always open with roughly the same chance for both teams, but at the end of the day it’s settled by the players. Every coach has a plan, but it’s up to the players to put it into action. My team’s done exactly that outstandingly so far.”
After defeat in last year’s final, are Bayern under more pressure than Dortmund?
“Mentally, we’re unbelievably stable. Nothing can throw us out of our stride. We have only one target, to win the big cup! Nothing can knock us off course. My team is incredibly focused on success and programmed for it, to an extent I’ve never experienced in my career as a player and coach. Obviously, after the huge disappointment on our own ground, picking ourselves up and playing a season like this proves my players are special and made of the right stuff.”
Who start as favourites?
“Neither team, in my opinion. It’s never easy against Dortmund – but never easy against us either! Juventus discovered that, Barcelona – the best team in the world – discovered that, and Dortmund will discover it too. I think it’ll be a purely sporting matter at Wembley, with both teams playing fair and in their best shape, and I’m expecting a very interesting match. But I’m confident we’ll bring the big cup back to Munich.”
Philipp Lahm:
How much are you already thinking about the final?
“Obviously it’s in my mind, and obviously we’re determined to win the Champions League this year. The party’s over for now and we’re refocused, working away on the practice ground. We’ll be perfectly prepared for the final, and I’m very, very confident it’ll be us lifting the trophy in a couple of weeks.”
What do you think of the way German football has developed?
“We’ve come on very well in recent years, not only Bayern, but also the national team and the Bundesliga as a whole. But it doesn’t end with this season. I think we’re looking at a bright future, with the chance of competing for the international trophies every year.”
What’s your previous experience of Wembley?
“I played there once and won, so it’s a superb stadium.”
Thomas Müller:
Are you happy you’re facing Borussia Dortmund?
“It’s a spicy one – and I like it spicy. I think it’s good we’re playing Dortmund. There’s plenty of edge. There’s a lot to win and a lot to lose for both sides. We probably know more about Dortmund than any other team, and in any case the pressure’s on Bayern. Since my first day in the youth section, the pressure has always been on us, but we can cope with it. We’ve made such a solid impression in recent months, so it really doesn’t matter whether the pressure is on us or our opponents.”
Why is the team so solid?
“Because the players have come on tremendously as the years have gone by. Because we’ve made excellent new signings. And perhaps because there’s been a mental shift among the attacking players: especially in the big matches, we’ve shown a willingness to run which isn’t just normal.”
What have been the key moments of the season so far?
“I think the period after the restart in January was very important. We had some tricky matches, in Mainz for example, where we’ve always struggled, but won comfortably this time. From then on, we knew we could win even the toughest matches.”
How important is winning the Champions League for your career?
“Every sportsman strives for success, so it’s important for your personal perception and feelings. And it’s really about time I won the thing. If you lose it three times, you’re marked as a loser, and I don’t want that.”
Arjen Robben:
What do you know about Wembley?
“I played an FA Cup final there with Chelsea. It’s a fantastic stadium with a wonderful history, and there’s no better atmosphere.”
How much are you looking forward to the final?
“It’s always great to contest a final, but at the end of the day, you also need to win at some point. Last year was a bitter disappointment, nor did we deserve to lose. But we’ve become even better and we’re approaching the final with great confidence.”
What kind of match do you expect?
“It’ll be a very intense match. Both teams are physically and tactically strong, both are well organised in defence, and both know each other inside out. The little things and form on the day will be decisive.”
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