Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann appeared at a press conference to talk about facing Arsenal in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final at the Emirates Stadium.

The player spoke about his excitement for the match: 'Yes, I still think about it. I have a great desire and enthusiasm to play in it, and I hope we can continue as we did in the second half of the first leg.'

Regarding his previous scoring at this stadium in the Europa League: 'In the end, as I always say, whether I score or not, I prefer to qualify. When I reach the match, I am calmer. Previously, I used to feel more tense, but now I enter with more calmness and knowledge of what I can do.'

On postponing his departure until the end of the current season: 'It was my idea to stay here because I thought we could achieve something amazing, and now we are one step away. I have complete confidence.'

He continued: 'The Champions League is always beautiful. I dreamed of playing in it since childhood. More than giving advice to the youth, I try to be a role model. I also try to help my teammates tactically; Koke gives advice verbally, and I do so in action.'

About playing his last matches in Europe before moving to the American league: 'I am only thinking about tomorrow's match and what the coach asks. I don't like thinking about the future; I prefer to be physically and mentally ready. I have great enthusiasm.'

On Alex Baena and his impact: 'His style is close to mine. At Villarreal, he played a lot on the flanks, and here he plays more centrally. He knows where he has reached and understands that it is not easy, and I think with the coach, he will find the way to shine.'

Regarding his development compared to the past: 'In the past, I played with a lot of tension, and I didn't know when to slow the play down and when to speed it up. Now I have become more calm and complete. These are moments you think will repeat, but they don't come back, so I have a great desire to play them. The Champions League semi-final is not available to everyone.'

He concluded about his ambition: 'I have a desire to see the flags and the stadium atmosphere. Mental readiness is very important. You should not think about the previous match but what you can offer. It's the Champions League semi-final, an amazing thing, and we can make history.'