Antoine Griezmann said Atletico Madrid will have to “suffer” at Borussia Dortmund to reach the Champions League semi-finals. Diego Simeone’s side beat their German visitors 2-1 in the quarter-final first leg on Wednesday but after dominating the first half their advantage could have been bigger.
Rodrigo De Paul and Samuel Lino netted in the first half but Sebastien Haller hit back in the 81st minute. Dortmund hit the woodwork twice in the final stages as Atletico clung on for victory. “In the second half they had the ball and pegged us back, we suffered quite a lot,” Griezmann said. “We will have to suffer there – we’ve got to go for the game and win it, we’ve got the quality to get to the semi-finals and beyond.”
Griezmann spoke to media with an ice pack strapped to his ankle but said he thought he would be fine after some treatment and rest, after coach Simeone said he had been playing through a niggle. “We’ve got the best physios in Europe to recover well, I’m doing very well, trying to help the team,” he said.
Griezmann said he was expecting strong support from Atletico fans for the return in Dortmund next Tuesday. “Atletico supporters travel, they prefer to travel for the team than to buy things they need for their homes, I’m so proud to be at this club,” he added. “Maybe it didn’t look great (in the end) but it’s a win in the quarter-finals and it’s very important to win.”
Simeone, who recorded his 50th win in the Champions League as a coach, agreed with Griezmann about the second leg. “I view (the second leg) as very tough, difficult, it’s huge,” said the Argentine. “We have to be prepared for what awaits us. (We played) with a good pressure, we stole the ball, we forced the opposing team almost in the first half not to have goal situations in the game. Now we’ll go to their stadium knowing that we’re going to find a strong team, a team with a lot of people who are going to take it to us, to attack. We will have to suffer and take advantage of the spaces. Seeing these first elimination ties, in the four (quarter-final) matches, it’s not easy to win, so we’re happy to have won.”
Dortmund coach Edin Terzic said: Everything remains open. The first 30 minutes were not good enough. Often, at this level, it’s already over if you make so many mistakes. But we didn’t accept that and still managed to show what we’re capable of.”
“We made too many mistakes. In the end, a draw wouldn’t have been undeserved. Now we look forward to what’s coming in six days. Today, we felt what they want and now we know what we have to do at home,” he added.