Arjen Robben was delighted to rid himself of the loser's tag after his last-minute goal gave Bayern Munich their fifth Champions League.
Twice before Robben has ended up on the losing side in European club football's biggest game. Even worse, the Dutchman also lost out in a World Cup final three years ago.
"You don't want the stamp of a loser," said Robben. "There was all the disappointment of last year but I personally also had the World Cup. That was three finals."
He added: "It wasn't so much pressure. I tried to make it into positive energy. I couldn't start thinking negatively, otherwise it would be too difficult. Tonight I scored the goal. We did it and we can forget about the other things."
With the Bundesliga title already secure and a German Cup final to come against Stuttgart next weekend, it could be an historic year for Bayern.
It certainly gives new coach Pep Guardiola a tough act to follow particularly as Jupp Heynckes suggested Robert Lewandowski is about to follow another Dortmund player, Mario Gotze, to Bayern next season.
"We have to be cautious," said Heynckes. "My successor will be able to take over a perfectly functioning team.
"We know Mario Gotze will be joining us and I don't think Robert Lewandowski will be hanging about too much either. Of course Bayern Munich will have to prove they can continue to achieve these things but possibly a new era might have begun for the club."
For Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp it is a bitter conclusion to a campaign he was confident would eventually end in glory. Klopp did feel Bayern defender Dante should have received a second booking for the foul on Marco Reus that earned Dortmund their penalty, although he was gracious enough not to make a massive deal out of it.
"What do you think?" he said, then: "We have same opinion," when told by his inquisitor he thought Dante should have been sent off. "When I saw it in the game I was sure. On TV, I think you have to give it. But there have been worse decisions than that in finals before now. The sadness will eventually go away and maybe in two years, when the final is in Berlin, we will come back."
Source: PA
