JAKARTA – Antoine Griezmann says he is ready to make history with Atletico Madrid as they prepare to face Arsenal for a place in the Champions League final.
Atletico Madrid and Arsenal drew 1-1 in the first leg of last week’s semi-final at the Metropolitano, with penalties scored by Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez.
Now, they will play on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, early morning WIB, at the Emirates with the winner advancing to the final against Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich.
Griezmann – who will join Orlando City in MLS (Major League Soccer) this summer after considering a move mid-LaLiga season – is the last veteran of Atletico Madrid to remain from the 2016 Champions League final.
At that time, he failed to score from the penalty spot in normal time, before finally scoring in the penalty shootout which ended in defeat.
“I’ve always been clear, my goal is to stay here because we can do something incredible. I have no doubts.”
“I feel we can do something historic, with another final, and the team knows it,” Griezmann told a news conference in London on Monday, May 4, 2026, local time, when asked if he was relieved to have chosen not to join Orlando during the MLS transfer window in March 2026.
Although his career has seen him win the World Cup with France and the Europa League with Atletico Madrid, Griezmann has never won the Champions League.
Speaking at the press conference, he admitted that he was very stressed at the 2016 final, where Atletico Madrid were beaten by local rivals Real Madrid in Milan.
“That year was so different. I was so stressed. Everything was going so fast. I didn’t know how to slow it down.”
“Now I am calmer and more mature. I face the game more relaxed and with more joy.”
“These are moments you think will come back, but it doesn’t. Not everyone has the chance to play in the Champions League semi-finals. We can make history.”
“Every time you start the Champions League, you imagine yourself lifting the trophy. Every team, every player, every kid in his bedroom (dreams about it). We are too. We are two games away,” said Griezmann.
Meanwhile, Diego Simeone’s manager said he was not sure whether star striker Alvarez – who shone in the first leg – would be available on Wednesday, nor Alexander Sorloth – who missed last week’s game – and injured Giuliano Simeone.
“Yesterday they trained a little. They are better. We hope they can play. We will decide who will be the starter. (Alvarez) knows the English League very well. Let’s hope he can do what the game demands,” said Simeone.
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