Two templates and wet eyes: Robben shines in an emotional comeback

Two templates and wet eyes
Robben shines in an emotional comeback

Last year, Arjen Robben decided to quickly end his football retirement. But several injuries stop the return to FC Groningen, after a long break, the 37-year-old is back in the starting line-up. And helps to get the chance to win the European Cup.

Arjen Robben had worked for this moment for eight months, and the former Bayern star was correspondingly emotional after the final whistle. In the 4-0 win of FC Groningen against FC Emmen, the 37-year-old was back in the starting line-up for the first time – and then prepared two goals for his club’s important victory from the right wing. In the subsequent TV interview, Robben seemed to be overwhelmed by his emotions.

“It’s just a long way. You hope for more, you expect more. Then it’s hard and difficult. And I kept fighting,” said Robben at ESPN in a cracked voice and wiped tears from his eyes. “Then I thought that the reward would finally have to come at some point. And then there is a game like today and I can join in and I have 75 minutes of fun like a child and can still be important for the team with two assists – yes, then I am i happy. ” Robben was changed after 80 minutes.

Tears of joy.

(Photo: imago images / ANP)

One year after his resignation, Robben returned from sporting retirement last summer and signed with his youth club Groningen for a year. A stubborn calf injury had slowed the 96-time Dutch international for a long time, now the body seems to be doing it again. In the first game of the season in mid-September, Robben injured his groin after half an hour and was out for a month. After another brief assignment in mid-October, he was injured again for a longer period and was only back on the field a month ago. He said he would like to consider in the coming time whether he will have another season on it.

Robben made his professional debut for Groningen in December 2000 at the age of 16, and in 2021 he will fight for qualification for the UEFA Conference League with his youth club. By beating Emmen, the green-whites consolidated seventh place in the Eredivisie, which would entitle them to participate in the league’s internal playoffs for the new European Cup at the end of the season.

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