Joshua Kimmich: 'You could tell we wanted to win' | OneFootball

FC Bayern claimed a comfortable 5-1 win at home to RB Leipzig in their final match of 2024. But the joy over the victory soon paled into insignificance. "We learned about the events in Magdeburg during the match," explained CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen. "That's why we decided to abandon the Christmas ceremony. The game was a wonderful conclusion to a year that certainly hasn't always been easy for us. We're pleased to have a bit more of a lead at the top of the table now, we wait to see how our rivals get on tomorrow and go into the new year with a lot of confidence." Joshua Kimmich added: "It was certainly a very good performance. We started brilliantly, then conceded the equaliser. But you could tell from the start that we really wanted to win." fcbayern.com has rounded up the post-match reaction:

The reaction to the Leipzig match

Jan-Christian Dreesen (CEO): "We learned about the events in Magdeburg during the match. That's why we decided to abandon the Christmas ceremony. The game was a wonderful conclusion to a year that certainly hasn't always been easy for us. We're pleased to have a bit more of a lead at the top of the table now, we wait to see how our rivals get on tomorrow and go into the new year with a lot of confidence."

Christoph Freund (sporting director): "We know what we're capable of. When we implement our game over 90 minutes, we know what's possible. We showed that on the pitch today. That was a real statement because we deserved to win by such a margin. It was a very nice finish, with a great reaction from the team. But we were also convinced we're capable of performing like that because we've done it many times already this season and are on a very good path."

Vincent Kompany: "It's actually impossible to talk about football. At this moment in time, the people in Magdeburg are in our thoughts. The priority is hopefully to have peace one day. We're ending this year and I wish for wins for peace next year."

Thomas Müller: "We found out after the game. It's often difficult to put into perspective. We're concentrating on football, are completely in the zone and then every so often you're confronted with reality. We desperately wanted to win, and do so in a certain manner. But you can never plan for such a clear result. You can only plan things and put them into practice, which will then lead you on your way: duels, speed of passing and so on. The set-up was more comfortable today than against Mainz last week, because Leipzig are also a team that want to play football, even though they're not in their best phase at the moment. We capitalised on that well, didn't let ourselves get rattled after the equaliser and kept going to the end."

Joshua Kimmich: "It was certainly a very good performance. We started brilliantly, then conceded the equaliser. But you could tell from the start that we really wanted to win. And we did that in convincing fashion. The coach really sets the example and we players also felt that Mainz was our worst performance of the season. It was hugely important to show a reaction."

Harry Kane: "Sometimes there are more important things than football. In the game we produced a good performance. We were very dominant, moved the ball well and were good in our counter-pressing. It's a good way to round off the year. It's always important for the feeling, you always want to go into a break with a win. We're top of the table, which gives us a good feeling for the new year. We can enjoy the break a bit but then it's about looking ahead."

Konrad Laimer: "I think it was a very good performance to finish, with a very important win against a good team, who are always capable of making things happen going forward. But on the whole the win was never in danger today. That's how to go into the winter break and enjoy the holidays."

The reaction from RB Leipzig

Marco Rose (coach): "I've just heard the news from home, from Magdeburg. Do we really want to talk about football? Well, we lost heavily, we deserved to lose. Benni [Benjamin Henrichs] has possibly suffered a serious ankle injury. But things happened today that just aren't nice."

Willi Orbán (captain): "We hardly got into our high pressing, had so few periods of possession and were too lose when we did have the ball. Bayern were very dominant and intense. It's a shame because we hoped for more, but in the end you have to congratulate FC Bayern on a deserved win."

The match report:

Five-star Bayern end year with big win