'Atletico will heal wounds if it wins Champions League'

Spanish coach Javier Irureta, former player of Atletico Madrid who participated in the 1974 European Cup final against Bayern Munich, has said if the Spanish football club wins the Champions League this season then it "will heal the wounds" of the last 42 years.

In an interview released on Tuesday on world football's governing body FIFA website, Irureta recalled that Atletico's defeat against the German side in the 1974 final was "probably the lowest point of my career."

"If Atletico end up being crowned champions of Europe, then it'll be healed completely, though I don't really care who they beat on the way," Irureta added.

Bayern drew 1-1 against Atletico Madrid in the 1974 European Cup final to earn a replay, in which the German club scored a 4-0 victory over the Spanish side to win the title.

Atletico Madrid will host Bayern on Wednesday at Vicente Calderon stadium in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.

Irureta predicted that Wednesday's clash will be "a balanced game" between two teams of completely different styles, explaining that Bayern will possess the ball more, but Atletico will not be worried about this style, as the Spanish team will "try to create spaces".

--IANS

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