Kimmich, Kane and Kobel reflect on intense "Klassiker" | OneFootball

The clash between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich at Signal Iduna Park was a rollercoaster from start to finish, and Kimmich, Kane and Kobel were quick to analyze what made the difference.

Kimmich: Freshness and team understanding

Joshua Kimmich emphasized the role of Bayern’s preparation and freshness in the second half.

“The first half was very unrhythmic, but in the second half it was clear to us - the longer the game goes, the harder it is for Dortmund. They’ve had exhausting weeks and we used our freshness,” Kimmich explained.

He also praised the build-up to the opening goal, which highlighted his long-standing understanding with Serge Gnabry. “We created excellent chances; the build-up to the first goal was brilliant. Serge and I have played together for so long - he knew I’d play the ball to him. Kane was then there for the finish.”

On scoring the decisive goal himself, Kimmich admitted: “I don’t score that many goals, so I’m super happy. It was an important win today.” He also highlighted the bigger picture: “It’s down to us now - we now have an 11-point lead on Dortmund. We have it in our hands. No one has ever lost it yet from this position and it should stay that way.”

Kane: Seizing opportunities and staying focused

Harry Kane praised his team’s character and his own approach to taking chances.

“A big game tonight against a tough team away from home. It says a lot about us and our character today to come back and win,” Kane said. “With this team, I always said I’m going to get my chances and you just have to be ready to take them. I gotta keep doing what I’m doing. I need to be consistent - maybe I can catch Robert Lewandowski’s record.”

Kane also warned against complacency despite Bayern’s lead at the top. “We already had an 11-point lead on second place and you saw how quickly you can lose such a lead. The title race isn’t over yet. We’ve got to stay focused and keep going.”

Kobel: Fine margins decided the “Klassiker”

Gregor Kobel, who conceded three goals, acknowledged the small differences that made the difference while praising Dortmund’s effort.

“I think today they [Bayern] had extreme quality in front of goal. We showed an incredible fight, brought the fans with us and showed ourselves physically on the pitch,” Kobel said.

Reflecting on the result, he added: “Performance wise, we showed a good reaction after the Atalanta game, yes, but in the end we still lost. That hurts a lot. At the end, it’s the small things that decide the game. I almost saved Kane’s penalty - these are things you have to accept, even if it hurts. We really gave everything.”