"It was unbelievably emotional until the end"

Thomas Tuchel: "The two halves were very different in nature: I was very satisfied with the first half. How we played, how we attacked and created goalscoring chances for ourselves was all very good. We maintained our structure well before the break in order to avoid conceding – even though we did let one in early on. But we reacted well. We worked really hard and were determined to turn the game around. We knew that Bremen are always able of attacking and that they can score spectacular goals. Then we totally messed up the beginning of the first half, and conceded two very soft goals. The game then stood on a knife edge. It was unbelievably emotional until the end. We played with a lot pf passion, pressure and pluck going forward, and ultimately managed to turn the game in our favour one more time. For that, my team have earned high praise indeed. We are very, very pleased with the result. The one piece of bad news is that Marcel Schmelzer sustained a muscular injury to the back of his right thigh while warming up. It is touch and go whether he'll be fit for the final next week."

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: "The top-scorer canon means a lot to me. It was a great effort – made by the whole team. I am grateful to everybody: the training staff, my fellow players and everybody who works for the club. It is just great."

Roman Bürki: "We are really pleased with the win. It is extremely important that we play in the Champions League, not only so that we can keep players here, but also to be able to attract potential new signings. We achieved our target today. If you want to be a top team, then you have got to win your home games. We have not lost at home for two years. That is pretty impressive."

Nuri Sahin: "After going a goal down, we actually played really well, dominated the game, and turned things around. But immediately after the break we conceded the equaliser and then another stupid goal. We were very strong after that, though. We refused to give up, and in my opinion, our victory was deserved overall."

Sokratis: "It was a very difficult game. Not just the game itself, but the situation: we had to win. Then we conceded this annoying, early goal. That made things more difficult, of course. We did it in the end, though, and will play in the Champions League next season. That is very important. The victory will bolster our confidence for the final next week."

"Such a performance earns my respect"

Alexander Nouri (Werder Bremen Manager): "Given that Dortmund had to win so as to be able to play in the Champions League next season, it makes me proud that we put in such a performance. We mustered all our power, and gave everything. We took the lead twice, but let the game slip thanks to two penalties. But such a performance earns my respect." (djg)