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 over a decade.
Maatsen was playing in the Championship with Burnley a year ago and headed to Chelsea convinced he would get an opportunity to prove his quality for the Blues this season.
Overlooked by Mauricio Pochettino and sent out on loan to Dortmund, Maatsen has been a revelation in Germany, capping off his ‘amazing’ night by reaching a Champions League semi-final.
‘It’s such an amazing feeling, you know?’ Maatsen told CBS.
‘I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a kid, especially scoring my first goal in the Champions League. I’m so happy I can’t even describe it.’
Asked if he ever saw himself getting to produce big moments on the biggest stage after being shunned at Chelsea, Maatsen told Thierry Henry that he never lost faith in himself.
‘I always believed [I could] play for Chelsea, but unfortunately it didn’t work out,’ he explained.
‘Now I’m here I’m very grateful for the opportunity. I’m very proud of myself. I kept believing in myself and came here to play my game at the highest level. Today I think I showed a very good performance.’
Maatsen got the second of Dortmund’s four goals on the night as they overwhelmed an experienced Atletico Madrid side to reach the final four for the first time since 2012-13.
The left back’s finish was a rocket, low into the far corner after some clever build up play, and while it caught Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak by surprise, it was no fluke.
‘These opportunities don’t come often for full-backs and I’ve been practising in training,’ he said.
‘I got a good touch in the box and I saw the goal and just put it in the net as hard as I can. Today it paid off.’
In front of an 81,000-strong crowd, Dortmund looked as energised at the final whistle as they were at the first and that is down to their famed Yellow Wall, Maatsen said.
‘This Yellow Wall is insane. You felt the energy from the fans and you feel such a buzz. You feel it so much in your heart. It goes all through your body. Great fans. I can’t describe it.’
