A Victory for Atletico Madrid in the Champions League Would Heal a Deep Wound for Antoine Griezmann

The French forward of the mattress team seeks to remedy the history and leave the club with his head held high, dreaming of a Champions League

The cursed history of Griezmann and a historic possibility

The team led by Cholo Simeone, Atlético de Madrid, has just knocked Barcelona out of the tournament and is preparing to face Arsenal at home in the UEFA Champions League semifinals next Wednesday, April 29, at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium. In the lead-up, Antoine Griezmann once again brought up a memory that has haunted him for years: the missed penalty in the 2016 final against Real Madrid.

The 35-year-old veteran French forward is spending his last months at the Spanish club before heading to the United States to play for Orlando City in Major League Soccer. His goal is very clear: to say goodbye with the title that always eluded him. "It's not something I think about every day, but every time we talk about the Champions League with friends or teammates, that moment from 2016, the penalty, always comes up," the Frenchman acknowledged

A wound to heal and its relationship with the club

That nightmare night for the colchoneros, with the score 1-1, Griezmann missed from the penalty spot in the 48th minute, and Atlético fell in the penalty shootout. Today, with a new opportunity to achieve glory, the attacker admits that lifting the cup would mean much more than a sporting achievement: "It would heal a very deep wound. The only way to overcome it would be to win this year," Griezmann assures.

Beyond the outstanding account, Antoine Griezmann emphasized his strong identification with the club and the fans. "Love for the club's colors, for the club's crest, and love for football, because the fans love football, and love for hard work; I think that's why I quickly connected with the club and its fans," explained the forward.

He also spoke about the bond with the Argentine coach Diego Simeone, the player highlighted the relationship built with Cholo, whom he considers more than just a tactical reference: "I believe that, ultimately, he has given me everything and I have given him everything. I enjoy and have enjoyed having him by my side. I know that, beyond my career, I will have in him a friend, a former coach, and that we will always be very close," concluded Antoine Griezmann

Griezmann in Atlético Madrid

With over 500 matches and more than 200 goals in two stints at Atlético, Griezmann is already part of the club's great history. However, his ambition drives him to seek a perfect ending: to conquer the Champions League and settle a debt that has followed him for a decade.

Atlético, strengthened after eliminating Barcelona, arrives at this semifinal with confidence and a hunger for glory. For Griezmann, the clash against Arsenal is not just another step in the competition: it is the opportunity to transform a painful memory into the crowning achievement of his career.