Antoine Griezmann is set to play his final Champions League home game on Wednesday night before heading to Orlando City in the summer, but club captain Koke’s future is also uncertain.
Atlético Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann (right) and Koke are both desperate to get into the game with a bang
Atletico Madrid star Koke says saying goodbye in the Champions League will give him “additional motivation”.
Veteran Koke, 34, is out of contract this summer, while French superstar Antoine Griezmann will play his final Champions League game at the Metropolitano before departing for Major League Soccer at the end of the season.
It marks the end of an era for Atlético, but it also represents an opportunity for Diego Simeone, who is in the Champions League semi-final for the fourth time in his 15-year reign. Not only do they have the know-how and experience, but they are also known for subverting expectations and enjoying being the underdog.
There are certainly emotions surrounding Griezmann’s farewell and Koke’s future is not set in stone, but all eyes will be on the pair as they prepare for what could be their final dance.
Koke said: “If Antoine can say goodbye in the Champions League, I think that would be incredible for everyone and we have the same motivation. Beyond Antoine’s farewell, I think we all have the motivation to win the Champions League, right? That’s the biggest thing we can achieve.”
“Beyond the fact that Antoine may not be here next year and other team-mates may not be here, I think at the end of the day this is a team and we are playing to achieve the maximum, and the maximum right now is the Champions League.
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“I feel like I’m really enjoying this season, the semi-finals of the Champions League don’t happen every year. I talked about it in the press conference when I was at Al Basa. If we reach the semi-finals, it will be the seventh time Atlético Madrid have reached the final, but luckily this is the fourth time I’ve been able to play.
“So, you don’t get to play every year, so enjoy it to the fullest. I don’t know if I’ll play it again, but it’s true that I’m going to enjoy it just as much as I did last time.”
Koke himself is still in good form, but says he has coped with the physical demands of the Champions League and feels as fit as ever, which has stopped him from looking back.
Koke added: “It doesn’t surprise me. Obviously it costs more as you get older, which happens to all footballers, but I’m not surprised.
“The truth is, being here and being able to do what I’ve been doing all these years is what motivates me every day. Honestly, that motivation is what’s getting me to the level I’m giving this season. The past is the past and we have to enjoy it.”
“So, I don’t think anything strange or different will happen compared to other semi-finals. But apart from the fact that we’re playing against a great team like Arsenal, it’s a Champions League semi-final and they’re playing with the highest motivation, nothing is different, at least I don’t see anything different.”
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