Ian Maatsen sends a pointed message to parent club Chelsea after he scores crucial goal in Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League quarter-final win over Atletico Madrid
Ian Maatsen sent a not-so-subtle message to Chelsea after scoring his first Champions League goal to help Borussia Dortmund reach the semi-finals for the first time in more than a decade.
Maatsen played in the Championship with Burnley a year ago and left for Chelsea in the belief that he would get the chance to prove his quality for the Blues this season.
Maatsen was overlooked by Mauricio Pochettino and loaned out to Dortmund. He was a revelation in Germany and capped his ‘great’ evening by reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League.
“It’s such an amazing feeling, you know?” Maatsen told CBS.
‘I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a child, especially when I scored my first goal in the Champions League. I’m so happy I can’t even describe it.’
Ian Maatsen scored his first Champions League goal in Borussia Dortmund’s victory over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday evening
Dortmund reached the semi-finals, much to the delight of Chelsea loanee Maatsen
Maatsen sent a message to his parent club after the game after a lack of opportunities under Mauricio Pochettino earlier this season
Asked if he ever saw himself producing big moments on the biggest stage after being shunned at Chelsea, Maatsen told Thierry Henry he has never lost confidence in himself.
‘I have always believed [I could] playing for Chelsea, but unfortunately that didn’t work out,” he explained.
‘Now that I am here, I am very grateful for this opportunity. I am very proud of myself. I kept believing in myself and came here to play my game at the highest level. I think I showed a very good performance today.’
Maatsen scored the second of Dortmund’s four goals on the night as they overwhelmed an experienced Atletico Madrid side to reach the last four for the first time since 2012/13.
The left-back’s finish was a rocket, low into the far corner after clever build-up play, and although Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak was taken by surprise, it was no fluke.
“These opportunities don’t come often for full-backs and I have been practicing in training,” he said.
‘I got a good touch in the penalty area, saw the goal and put it into the net as hard as I could. Today it paid off.”
In front of a crowd of 81,000, Dortmund looked as energetic at the final whistle as they did at the first whistle, and that’s thanks to their famous Yellow Wall, Maatsen said.
‘This Yellow Wall is insane. You could feel the energy from the fans and you feel such a buzz. You feel it so deep in your heart. It goes through your entire body. Great fans. I can not describe it.’