Chelsea desire the difference for Di Matteo

Roberto Di Matteo believed "heart and passion" earned Chelsea FC a first UEFA Champions League title as Jupp Heynckes rued FC Bayern München's inability to make their chances count.

Jupp Heynckes, Bayern coach
My team played an outstanding match against opponents who played the way we expected and the way they'd played for the last few Champions League matches. We must blame ourselves for having so many opportunities without profiting. When you score in the 83rd minute you need to keep that lead; then we had a penalty in extra time. Penalties are a lottery, we know that from history.

Chelsea were the lucky team today; they played the way they know best and I'd like to congratulate them on their performance. They put on a real fight, defensively they were very well organised and in the shoot-out they had the luck to win the Champions League. It's a very bitter defeat. We can't blame Chelsea for playing their game; when you have so many opportunities you have to take advantage of them. We didn't do that today and that's why we lost.

These players had a huge fantasy about winning the Champions League here in Munich and then you have such a renowned, experienced player [Bastian Schweinsteiger] missing a penalty – that's something you have to cope with. Bastian was instrumental in getting us to the final and he'll take some time to get over it, but that's football and you have to learn to cope with that.

I said it would be something else to play in your own stadium, where you know everything and feel at home. The team played like we were at home, look at the statistics – we were better in every respect. The players delivered an outstanding performance and were not rewarded. But it wasn't an injustice – we should have scored more goals and kept a clean sheet after we scored, then we would have won the cup. Instead all we can do is congratulate Chelsea.

Roberto Di Matteo, Chelsea interim manager
Football, and life, is sometimes unpredictable and crazy. I don't think anyone could have predicted this. We've had a difficult season and to finish off like this is incredible. I'm very happy for the players, they've worked so hard for this for so long.

Obviously when Bayern scored there wasn't much time for us but the heart and passion these players have shown in this competition has been immense. To equalise and get into extra time was a good feeling. Our preparation was very difficult with the suspended players and two defenders out for three or four weeks so it wasn't an ideal situation for a Champions League final but the desire and motivation of the players has shown again tonight.

[Didier Drogba] has been a fantastic servant for this club over eight years and brought a lot of success but we focus on the group and it was a great effort from all the players tonight. Ashley Cole was immense, also Frank Lampard and Petr Čech – to be able to pull off this victory took a big team effort.

I don't know what the future holds but we are very happy to have made history for the club. It's the first time we've won this competition and it's been very difficult. The club was very close four years ago and I think the players thought they would reach the final again. It's a difficult competition to win and you have to take your chances when they come along.

Penalties are always a bit of a lottery. Bayern played very well tonight, they're a very good team – that's why they were in the final and why they’ve won this competition so many times. I know how Bayern must feel because losing on penalties is always very harsh.

This makes a huge difference for the future of our club. We always said it was crucial to be involved in the Champions League. Winning tonight qualifies us for next season's competition so it's a double whammy in a positive sense.

I'm going on holidays after this because I need one desperately – it's been a challenging three months. I've been happy with the role I've been given and whatever the future holds, I'll accept. It's not important.

Whatever the club decides we respect; it's as simple as that. I've just tried to work with the players tactically, mentally and physically and prepare them to the best of my knowledge. It's brought us results and that's what matters most. Players, staff and supporters, we're all very happy tonight – it's a historic night for our football club.

Heynckes puts Bayern odds at 50-50

Jupp Heynckes believes FC Bayern München have a "little advantage" as UEFA Champions League final hosts but is equally aware of the threat of a "dangerous" Chelsea FC side.
 

Jupp Heynckes led Real Madrid to UEFA Champions League glory in 1998

In terms of coaching experience, there is hardly any comparison – when Jupp Heynckes began his first spell in charge of FC Bayern München, Chelsea FC manager Roberto Di Matteo had yet to even make his professional debut as a player.
Heynckes has achieved so much since then, most notably steering Real Madrid CF to their first European Cup in 32 years in 1998, but, despite the clear disparity in coaching pedigree, the 67-year-old has been impressed with Chelsea since Di Matteo took over in March. And, as Bayern prepare to tackle their English rivals at the Fußball Arena München on Saturday, the veteran knows not to take anything for granted on the tactical front.
"You can see that Chelsea can play different systems," said Heynckes, aiming to become only the fourth coach to win the trophy with different clubs. "They played completely differently against Benfica [in the quarter-finals] than they did against Barcelona [in the last four]. I expect Chelsea to be a bit different than against Barcelona. The team has been going through a really good period in the last weeks, and they're playing better, more successful football."
The former West Germany striker, who took the Bayern reins for the third time last summer, also has plenty of respect for the men at Di Matteo's command. "They have a lot of experienced players in their team and it's clear that the veterans, the players who've been playing at Chelsea for many years, want to win something big. And that's very dangerous for us. The match will be open and the chances are 50-50, but it might be a little advantage to play here at home."
As well as an advantage, Heynckes knows that contesting the showpiece on home soil represents an opportunity to write a new chapter in the history of the club he led to consecutive Bundesliga titles in 1988/89 and 1989/90. After all, no side has triumphed on their own turf in the UEFA Champions League era. "It's something special to play the final in your own stadium," he said. "It's something extraordinary, something that's never happened [since 1965], something historic. So, of course, it would be massive to win the final."
It would likewise provide a chance to relax after a long season that has brought highs and lows – and little time to savour the highs. "It's a bit difficult to enjoy it," he explained. "After the team wins a match or plays well, that takes a certain burden off me and I can enjoy it. Then I reflect on how we played. I analyse the matches with the team and I can only say that we've played excellent football this season, especially in the Champions League. But in the last few weeks there has been a lot of travelling, preparation and debriefs, match analysis, matches, etc. All of that takes a huge effort."
One issue now taxing the former VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach stalwart is how to cope with the absence of suspended trio Holger Badstuber, David Alaba, and Luiz Gustavo in Saturday's decider. Chelsea will have one ineligible player more given that Branislav Ivanović, Raul Meireles, Ramires and John Terry are all missing, but Heynckes does not feel that will lend his team any sort of edge.
"I can't say that because I think Chelsea's players have the same weight as ours," he commented. "I would love to have them with us because they deserved it. Throughout the season, they have been key players in my team and that's why it’s a real pity."