Reaction to DFB Cup final against Stuttgart - Harry Kane: 'I wanted to make the fans proud'

Bayern are DFB Cup winners once again for 2025/26 thanks to an impressive second-half display and a Harry Kane hat-trick in the final against VfB Stuttgart. “This was definitely one of the best nights of my career. I wanted to make the team proud; I wanted to make the fans proud. And to score a hat-trick in a final, it’s just such a special game and special feeling,” the English striker said after the 3-0 win earned Bayern a 21st DFB Cup and 14th domestic double. “Such a positive dynamic has developed this season, so it was important for us to give something back,” added Joshua Kimmich after captaining the team on the night. fcbayern.com rounds up all the reaction from Berlin.

Reaction to DFB Cup final against VfB Stuttgart

Max Eberl (board member for sport): “The entire season has been extraordinary. We really deserve to win the double. The cup is coming back to Munich – the crowning of an amazing season. It’s only fitting that he [Kane] won it with a hat-trick. It was a really intense game that was about physicality in the first half. We were then clinical in the second. We’ve had games all season where we had to overcome adversity, where we were behind or a man down. We had to grind our way through, but from the end of the first half we showed our quality. We all wanted three titles. That’s how we played the entire season. Obviously the team does their bit, but we’re so blessed with our attack. And Harry just has that something special, so we’re really happy to have him.”

Vincent Kompany: “It’s wonderful. We played against a good opponent today. The first half was pretty even. This team always manages to up their level. We defended solidly. It was almost the perfect final. Every player said at half-time that we’re close and can do it. There were one-v-ones where we didn’t make the correct decision, but we felt we could up our level. It was a close final, and then we scored the goals we needed to win in the second half. We sometimes made really good moves into space. You’ve then got a good mix of action on the ball and active runs. That’s tough to defend.”

Joshua Kimmich: “Everyone was happy to finally be back in Berlin. It’s a special thing. Such a positive dynamic has developed this season, so it was important for us to give something back. It was very even in the first half. Stuttgart actually made the better start. We didn’t have so many chances in the first half. We were then clinical in the second. We did that well and in a commanding way.”

Harry Kane: “This was definitely one of the best nights of my career. I was so looking forward to this final. I’d heard so much from all the players who’d experienced this final before with the club. I wanted to make the team proud; I wanted to make the fans proud. And to score a hat-trick in a final, it’s just such a special game and special feeling. I’m so proud of that. It was a long and hard season. Ending it like this is perfect.”

Leon Goretzka: “I don’t think this was a farewell party. We’re celebrating winning the cup. I’ve already thanked Harry. He really delivered today, but he’d promised me that beforehand. We’ve always missed out on the cup in recent years. Anyone here tonight will know why we missed it. This atmosphere is just so special. You also have to give credit to the Stuttgart fans. They helped create a real atmosphere. But our fans were obviously a bit louder.”

Jonas Urbig: “It’s just great, especially the way we tired out the opponent over the 90 minutes and now can celebrate with the fans. It’s a really special day. I think it shows the quality of a top team. Stuttgart were a very good opponent again this season, but we keep managing to keep our level high after the 60th minute, keep applying pressure and create chances. And for Harry to score three again today is just incredible. He absolutely deserves it.”

Jamal Musiala: “It’s what you expect in a final. We gave our all. Now we can celebrate and enjoy it.”

Aleksandar Pavlović: “It’s such an amazing feeling and is so much fun. I’d obviously dreamed of this as a young player. And now I get to experience it every week, every month. I’ve won the cup for the first time today. It’s an indescribable feeling and even better than I’d imagined.”

Konrad Laimer: “The cockatoo is getting thirsty. It’s time to give it a drink. Everyone saw how great the final here is, how great it is to win this trophy. The whole atmosphere and everything is crazy. It’s so much fun and will hopefully happen even more in the coming years.”

Reaction from Stuttgart:

Fabian Wohlgemuth (board member for sport): “At the end of the day, in the final game of a long competition, all that counts is the result. That was clear. But we weren’t outplayed here and I think we can leave with our heads held high. The first half in particular was very good. We offered real opposition to Bayern. The second half then went to Bayern. Maybe the first half was too intense, because we played man-to-man a lot. We had more chances and defended cleanly. But that obviously takes a lot of energy and we had to fight to maintain that tempo in the second half.”

Sebastian Hoeneß (head coach): “We’re still disappointed but also proud. I know we played very well for 55-60 minutes. The boys did exactly what’s needed to put Bayern on the ropes, but unfortunately that was it. We were close. Even though we lost today, the way we played was important to me. It makes things easier going into the summer break feeling positive.”

Deniz Undav (forward): “We all wanted to win but didn’t do it. But still, we can be proud of ourselves and our great season. We wanted to be awkward to face, but you can’t leave Harry Kane unmarked. He’s clinical. We competed for a long time. We managed to cause Bayern problems for a long time. There are worse things than losing to Bayern. We really were the underdogs.”

Ermedin Demirović (forward): “We played a great game, made life really tough for Bayern today. It felt like we contained them. Harry Kane did an excellent job. It really hurts. We gave all we had. We can’t blame ourselves at all. We had our moments. They then made it 1-0 from a dead ball. Then it’s tough because they hit their stride and we had to chase the game. I think the result is too high in the end.”

Read more about the game in our report: