Rummenigge: All our dreams can come true

When the players, coaching staff and officials arrived at the team hotel at around 1am for the traditional Champions League post-match banquet, the 400 fans and sponsors greeted the heroes of Madrid with a standing ovation, chants and repeated applause. And when Karl-Heinz Rummenigge took to the microphone, the emotions in the room freely flowed. fcbayern.de presents the chairman's speech at the banquet.

Rummenigge's speech in Madrid:

“Dear friends of FC Bayern, to the coaching staff headed by Jupp Heynckes, and to the team,

As I recall, matches involving such intensity and so much emotion have entered the annals of history of German football. I'm thinking of the semi-final between Germany and Italy in 1970, or the semi-final between Germany and France in 1982 – curiously enough, these matches were also decided on penalties. I've been attached to FCB since 1974, for almost 38 years. But when I think back over today's game, I have to say openly and honestly we've all experienced the most intense, most emotional and at the end of the day, fortunately also a successful match [applause].

When we made it to the semi-finals, we all said: it's unbelievably difficult against Real Madrid, and it unquestionably was. These two matches were incomparably intense. Nevertheless, the team and the fans always held fast to this dream of making the final on 19 May in Munich. I want to pay the team, and the coaches led by Jupp Heynckes, a huge compliment for achieving that today [applause].

We've all received incredible numbers of texts and e-mails this evening. A good friend sent me a text quoting Walt Disney, and I think it's very fitting: ‘All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.’ I think the team, the coaches and the fans have done that wonderfully. We've always had the courage, the team has always believed in it, and naturally we've been driven on by our own fans. Now we're there, and it's historic! The team, the coaches, Jupp Heynckes and everyone who bears responsibility at the club have realised a dream. I think that's unbelievable!

It's all up for grabs on 19 May. It won't be easy. I must correct anyone who thinks the final against Chelsea will take care of itself – it won't! It'll be a tough match. We must not make the mistake of prematurely celebrating winning the Champions League this evening. We still have to earn that.

I'm deeply sad and sympathise greatly with three of our players: David Alaba, Luiz Gustavo and Holger Badstuber [applause], who reveived third yellow cards tonight and are unfortunately suspended for the final. The regulations need to be discussed, and probably should be changed […]. At the World Cup, yellow cards are cancelled after the group stage, but not in the Champions League. This is something we ought to change. But we can't change it now. The coach will still find a good solution, I'm convinced of that.

We go into this final with great enthusiasm, great momentum and great pride. We'll try and succeed where we unfortunately came up short two years ago, here in Madrid. That's why it's doubly pleasing that we've made it to the final right here, in the same place.” [Applause]