Griezmann explains why a Champions League victory would “heal a very deep wound”

Atlético Madrid has simply knocked Barcelona out of the event and secured its spot within the UEFA Champions League semifinals. On the eve of one other decisive match, set for Wednesday, April 29, in opposition to Arsenal, Antoine Griezmann made headlines by reflecting on his previous within the event.

The French ahead opened up about his footballing life in an interview with UEFA, through which he mentioned his connection to the membership, his relationship with coach Diego Simeone, and, above all, his missed penalty in 2016.

The unfulfilled dream: Griezmann needs to make historical past with Atlético

The 35-year-old ahead will deliver his iconic profession at Atlético Madrid to a detailed this summer season by signing with Main League Soccer’s Orlando Metropolis, and he needs to exit on a excessive note-above all, by therapeutic a painful wound.

“Grizou” hasn’t forgotten the missed penalty within the second half of the 2016 Champions League remaining in opposition to Actual Madrid within the forty eighth minute. With the rating tied 1-1, Atlético misplaced the penalty shootout, and the French star was left questioning if the whole lot would have been totally different had he transformed that penalty:

“It isn’t one thing I take into consideration day-after-day, however every time we discuss concerning the Champions League with mates or teammates, that second all the time comes up-the one from 2016, the penalty,” Griezmann confessed.

Now, waiting for Wednesday’s match, scheduled for 3:00 PM ET at Riyadh Air Metropolitan Stadium, he defined that successful the event would imply rather more than only a title:

It could heal a really deep wound. The one method to recover from it will be to win this yr.

Antoine Griezmann

The ahead additionally highlighted his robust connection to Atlético, a membership the place he grew to become an idol and offensive chief. For him, his emotions towards Atlético are “fsomething ar past love.”

“Love for the membership’s colours, for the membership’s crest, and love for soccer-because the followers love soccer-and love for arduous work; I believe that is why I linked so shortly with the membership and its followers,” he stated.

In that regard,”Grizi” underscored the worth of the mission led by Diego Simeone, with whom he has maintained an expert relationship for years that has formed his profession and the crew’s aggressive identity-and whom he can now take into account a good friend:

I believe, in the end, he has given me the whole lot, and I’ve given the whole lot to him. I get pleasure from and have loved having him by my aspect. I do know that, past my profession, I’ll have him as a good friend, a former coach, and that we are going to all the time be very shut.

Antoine Griezmann

Thus, at a pivotal second within the season, and with Atlético as soon as once more competing amongst Europe’s finest, Griezmann just isn’t solely spending his remaining days with the crew the place he performed over 500 matches and scored greater than 200 targets throughout two stints, however his message combines ambition, a way of belonging, and a transparent aim: to take the membership to the highest of the continent and settle a historic rating.

UEFA Champions League Matches:

First Leg Matches:

Tuesday, April 28: PSG vs. Bayern Munich – 3:00 PM ET at Parc des PrincesWednesday, April 29: Atlético Madrid vs. Arsenal – 3:00 PM ET at Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium

Second Leg Matches:

Tuesday, Might 5: Arsenal vs. Atlético Madrid – 3:00 PM ET at Emirates StadiumWednesday, Might 6: Bayern Munich vs. PSG – 3:00 PM ET at Allianz Enviornment.

Grand Ultimate:

Saturday, Might 30 at 12:00 PM ET at Puskás Enviornment, Budapest, Hungary.