FOOTBALL NEWS FROM CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Heynckes: I changed things
Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes said he had changed things at half-time after his side struggled in the early stages of their late and dramatic Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund.
An Arjen Robben goal in the 89th minute gave Bayern, who opened the scoring through Mario Mandzukic, the tophy - but they had been indebted to goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the opening half an hour.
Neuer made fine saves to keep out efforts from Robert Lewandowski and Jakub Blaszczykowski and Heynckes, whose final game in charge is the forthcoming German Cup final, said he knew he needed to alter things.
"We didn't get into the game in the first half, so I corrected a few things at the interval," he explained.
"There was pressure on both teams, but we certainly felt the burden of being favourites in the first 20 minutes."
The coach, who is being succeeded by Pep Guardiola in the summer, said he would "be able to take over a perfectly-functioning team".
"Of course, Bayern Munich will have to prove they can continue to achieve these things - but, possibly, a new era might have begun for the club,'' he said.
Robben, who had missed an extra-time penalty when Bayern lost year's final to Chelsea on their own ground, told Sky Sportd: "There are so many emotions, especially after where we came from. Last year was such a disappointment.
"We've spoken about it: the last four years, we've been in the final three times. It needed to happen, but you still have to do it.
"I don't know how many times I dreamed about it. To do it in the end is an unbelievable feeling.
"It's unbelievable, it's already going into the history books. The way we did it... if you beat Juventus twice and then you beat Barcelona 4-0 and 3-0 and then win the final - I don't know what more you could wish for.''
Robben said Bayern's outstanding season had been partly due to Heynckes' emphasis on attacking players tracking back to help out teir defensive colleagues.
"We knew, after last season, what had to be done to improve our game - and that is what we did this season,'' he added.
"We defended, we stayed compact - especially the four players up front. I think we did our work. We ran back, and that makes it easy for the defence to play football."
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Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes said he had changed things at half-time after his side struggled in the early stages of their late and dramatic Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund.An Arjen Robben goal in the 89th minute gave Bayern, who opened the scoring through Mario Mandzukic, the tophy - but they had been indebted to goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the opening half an hour.
Neuer made fine saves to keep out efforts from Robert Lewandowski and Jakub Blaszczykowski and Heynckes, whose final game in charge is the forthcoming German Cup final, said he knew he needed to alter things.
"We didn't get into the game in the first half, so I corrected a few things at the interval," he explained.
"There was pressure on both teams, but we certainly felt the burden of being favourites in the first 20 minutes."
The coach, who is being succeeded by Pep Guardiola in the summer, said he would "be able to take over a perfectly-functioning team".
"Of course, Bayern Munich will have to prove they can continue to achieve these things - but, possibly, a new era might have begun for the club,'' he said.
Robben, who had missed an extra-time penalty when Bayern lost year's final to Chelsea on their own ground, told Sky Sportd: "There are so many emotions, especially after where we came from. Last year was such a disappointment.
"We've spoken about it: the last four years, we've been in the final three times. It needed to happen, but you still have to do it.
"I don't know how many times I dreamed about it. To do it in the end is an unbelievable feeling.
"It's unbelievable, it's already going into the history books. The way we did it... if you beat Juventus twice and then you beat Barcelona 4-0 and 3-0 and then win the final - I don't know what more you could wish for.''
Robben said Bayern's outstanding season had been partly due to Heynckes' emphasis on attacking players tracking back to help out teir defensive colleagues.
"We knew, after last season, what had to be done to improve our game - and that is what we did this season,'' he added.
"We defended, we stayed compact - especially the four players up front. I think we did our work. We ran back, and that makes it easy for the defence to play football."