FC Bayern beat Werder Bremen 3-2 in Wednesday night's DFB Cup semi-final and advanced to the final in Berlin. "It was a hotly-contested match, we were pushed to our limits," Thomas Müller said after the final whistle. Bayern took a two-goal lead, but the hosts levelled the scores in the second half before Robert Lewandowski sealed the victory from the penalty spot. "Taken altogether we deserved to progress," summarised Niko Kovac.
Reaction to Bremen v Bayern
Niko Kovac: "Both teams turned in a great display. On the balance of the chances I'd say we deserved to progress, taking everything into account. We defended high up the field in the first half, we didn't let Bremen approach our goal. We dropped deeper and deeper after the hour mark, inviting our opponents to attack, that hadn't been our plan. I knew it would be open again if Bremen scored, spurred on by the fantastic crowd. We were too passive when we conceded the goals."
Thomas Müller: "Both teams invested a lot. The atmosphere was outstanding, as expected. We turned in a good display until our second goal. Bremen created more chances than in the Bundesliga match, they had more momentum here. We deservedly took the lead, we had some really good chances. Then we made one or two mistakes and suddenly Bremen levelled the scores thanks to their incredible energy. Everything was possible, in the end it came down to who put it over the line. Taken altogether we had considerably more good chances, but a game like this is decided in the blink of an eye. Basically we had more gilt-edged chances but a lot can happen in the cup. It was a hotly-contested match, we were pushed to our limits."
Sven Ulreich: "We invited Bremen back into the game. We had five to ten minutes when we didn't really have a grip, they levelled the scores then. We have ourselves to blame for making it exciting again. At the end of the day we're through, and that's what counts."
Max Kruse (Werder Bremen captain): "It was a win-or-bust match today. To bounce back like this and level the scores against Bayern: that's just great. But we lost, and that's all that matters today."
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