Bastian Schweinsteiger admits that he and his Bayern Munich team-mates remain mentally and physically drained after Wednesday's dramatic Champions League shoot-out success over Real Madrid, but revealed that the joy of setting up a final on home soil against Chelsea overrides all feelings of fatigue.
The Bavarians appeared to be heading for an exit after falling 2-0 down on the night against Los Blancos, and 3-2 in arrears on aggregate, following a quickfire double from Cristiano Ronaldo inside the opening 14 minutes of the second-leg clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.
However, Arjen Robben levelled the tie with a penalty before Schweinsteiger held his nerve to decide the subsequent shoot-out in the visitors' favour and earn Bayern a place in next month's final in their own Allianz Arena.
“We're all exhausted, but overjoyed," the Germany international is quoted as saying by his club's official website.
"Ever since it was announced that the final would be in Munich, we all had only one target: to get there! Now we have one more match at home, and we want to win it."
Meanwhile, Schweinsteiger's team-mate, Mario Gomez, was almost lost for words after overcoming Madrid in their own backyard.
“I'm speechless, I'm overwhelmed," the striker confessed. "It was a dream which has become reality.
"In this atmosphere and in this situation, there’s nothing better than getting through in a penalty shoot-out."
The tournament decider will take place on May 19 at 20.45CET.
