Hummels: I hope I made right choice with Bayern move

The central defender is poised to join the Bavarian side this summer, returning to the club where he began his career, but he does not yet know if he has made the right decision

Mats Hummels says only time will tell if he has made the right decision by leaving Borussia Dortmund for Bayern Munich.

The Germany international defender saw his new side beat his current club 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out to win the DFB-Pokal final and complete a Bundesliga and cup double in Pep Guardiola’s farewell match, prior to his move to Manchester City, on Saturday.

Hummels, who failed to complete the match in Berlin due to injury and was replaced by Matthias Ginter, came through the youth teams at Bayern and will re-join on a five-year deal from next season.

The 27-year-old was disappointed his farewell Dortmund appearance ended in defeat, and admits he does not yet know if he has made the correct call in deciding to return to Bavaria.

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“It’s a very tough evening for us. It’s one game and you give it everything you have but it wasn’t enough for us,” he told ARD.

“Every one of us was pretty much exhausted during the game. It’s my last game. I’ve been able to celebrate a lot of success with the team and the fans in the last few years. 

“I hope I’ve made the right decision – we’ll see in the next few years.

“We performed well, we fought well. Maybe Bayern earned it, but we definitely thought we did too.”

Dortmund need more belief, says Tuchel

A penalty shoot-out defeat to Bayern Munich meant Borussia Dortmund lost a third successive DFB Pokal final.

Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel says his side still have a lot to learn following their DFB-Pokal final loss to Bayern Munich on Saturday. 

After a scoreless 120 minutes, penalties decided the outcome of the match, with Bayern prevailing 4-3 in the shoot-out at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

Tuchel said the performance gives him “a lot to think about” and admits his side need to show more belief while in possession. 

“We still have a lot to learn. It teaches you a lot to play in this final,” the 42-year-old said.

“To see how sharp Bayern was right from the start, even if the level was not as high as when we met them in the league in the second half of the season. 

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“This match gives you a lot to think about. We still need more belief in ourselves and determination when we are in possession. 

“We did work very hard and we defended with passion. But you also need to give yourself a breather when you are in possession, we did not have enough of those.”

The defeat meant Dortmund lost a third-straight Pokal final, but Tuchel says the disappointment of another trophy-less season should not take away from their second-place finish in the Bundesliga.

“This defeat does not erase the 78 points in the Bundesliga,” he insisted. “But still everything is influenced by what happens. 

“We expected to win the game, we didn’t manage to achieve that. After the defeat in Liverpool this is another disappointment.”

Bayern were spent before penalties win – Muller

The attacker scored in the shootout as the Bavarian giants beat Borussia Dortmund 4-3, and he has hailed the mental strength of his team-mates as the deciding factor in the win

Thomas Muller says Bayern Munich’s players were exhausted as they prepared for their 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal final on Saturday.

Following a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes, Manuel Neuer’s save from Sven Bender proved key, with Muller and Douglas Costa converting from the spot to end Pep Guardiola’s three-year Bayern reign on a high.

Bayern have now won a record 18 Pokal titles and completed the league and cup double again, with Muller hailing the mental strength of his team-mates as a vital factor in their victory.

“Penalties are always a mental thing. We were spent after 120 minutes,” Muller told ARD.

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“We’d have been gutted if we’ve not on the game. We really had chances to score. I think we played well but the final touch wasn’t there for us.

“We know how strong Dortmund are – Marco Reus and [Henrikh] Mkhitaryan were really dangerous – but we’re just delighted to have won an intense game.

“It could have gone either way, that’s what happens in the cup.”

Tearful Guardiola: Working at Bayern has been outstanding

The Spaniard burst into tears after his side beat Borussia Dortmund on penalties to win the DFB-Pokal and admitted he will miss his players when he leaves

Pep Guardiola described his three-year reign at Bayern Munich as “outstanding” after the DFB-Pokal final victory over Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern won 4-3 on penalties after extra time finished with the scores level at 0-0, as Manuel Neuer’s save from Sven Bender and Sokratis’ spot-kick against the post made the difference.

The victory ensures Guardiola finished with a double before he moves to Manchester City, with the head coach in tears at the final whistle and during the trophy celebrations.

“I had an outstanding time working here,” he told ARD. “I wish Bayern only the best for the future.

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“I’m glad it finished in this way – we are very satisfied. I will miss my players.

“BVB had momentum, but the momentum we had was bigger and longer. Dortmund had chances, but we had our own opportunities. 

“All the players were tired at the end and in a penalty shoot-out anything can happen.”

Guardiola’s stay at Bayern produced three Bundesliga titles, two Pokal crowns, a Club World Cup and a UEFA Super Cup.

Bayern Munich 0-0 Borussia Dortmund (aet, 4-3 pens): Douglas Costa secures cup for Bayern

Die Roten edged past BVB as a tearful Pep Guardiola’s spell in charge of the club came to a successful end

Pep Guardiola’s last match as Bayern Munich boss ended in a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal final on Saturday.

A 0-0 draw after extra-time ensured the contest was decided by spot-kicks, Bayern winning 4-3 as Manuel Neuer’s save from Sven Bender and Sokratis’ strike against the post proved decisive, meaning Joshua Kimmich’s miss went unpunished.

The victory ensures Bayern win a record 18th Pokal trophy as Guardiola finishes his three years in charge with an impressive double prior to joining Manchester City.

Dortmund are now without a major trophy for four seasons. They have lost three consecutive Pokal finals, the 2013 Champions League final and finished runners-up in the Bundesliga three times in the last four years.

Douglas Costa forced Roman Burki into a save with a left-footed drive and Aubameyang was off-target at the other end after his pace created an opening on the break as both sides struggled to threaten in a quiet first half.

Tempers flared near the dugouts shortly before half-time, with Gonzalo Castro and Ribery both booked for going head-to-head, but the Bayern winger was lucky to avoid a stricter punishment having appeared to gouge the eye of his opponent.

Both sides missed good chances early in the second half, with Robert Lewandowski stretching to divert Ribery’s cross just wide and Aubameyang shooting over from a presentable opening after being found by Marco Reus.

Another effort from Lewandowski was too high when he collected possession following Muller’s purposeful run, while Burki impressively saved a deflected Ribery strike.

Mats Hummels’ last appearance for Dortmund before joining Bayern ended through injury and he was replaced by Matthias Ginter after 78 minutes, before Tuchel’s men missed a golden opportunity to snatch a late winner.

It was again Aubameyang who had the chance, but he failed to adjust quickly enough to convert Lukasz Piszczek’s cross and struck wide.

Guardiola and Tuchel urged their sides on prior to extra-time, with Erik Durm making a crucial block on Lewandowski as he prepared to pull the trigger and Henrikh Mkhitaryan dragging an effort wide in the best openings of the added period.

Penalties saw Bender thwarted by Neuer and Sokratis strike the foot of the post as Dortmund missed two of their first three efforts, but Burki’s save from Kimmich gave them hope.

Thomas Muller and Douglas Costa converted for Bayern, however, to seal a 4-3 victory on spot-kicks, reducing Guardiola to tears.