Arjen Robben Overcome With Emotion In Post-Match Interview While Speaking About European Championship Dream

An emotional Arjen Robben has confirmed he will return to the Dutch national team for next month's European Championships if approached by manager Frank de Boer.

The 37-year-old winger made a sensational return to boyhood club FC Groningen last summer, months after calling time on his career because of injuries.

But since making a return to football, he has once again struggled with a calf problem picked up in October last year.

Image credit: PA

It has been a long road to recovery for the former Bayern Munich and Chelsea man, but he finally returned to the fold on Sunday afternoon, picking up the Man of the Match award for an outstanding performance against FC Emmen.

Robben not only made his first start after returning from a seven-month layoff but he notched two assists in the 4-0 win.

After the Eredivisie clash, he gave an incredibly emotional post-match interview as he discussed his highly-anticipated return.

He told ESPN: "I have come a long way, this is what I wanted. I want to help this club and I want to play football.

"If I can and succeed, then I am very happy. It has been a long and hard road. It was tough and difficult, but I kept fighting. The reward had to come sometime.

"I had fun, like a child, and it was also important to the team today."

When asked what he would do if national team coach Frank de Boer gave him a call-up for next months Euros, Robben gave a very sure answer.

"Then I'll come!" he said. "When I started this last summer, the European Championship was something of my wildest dreams.

"Firstly I want to stay realistic and see how things go in the coming weeks. Then we'll see further."

Groningen FC manager Danny Buijs praised the veteran winger for his influence at FC Groningen since arriving.

"We already know what he [Robben] can bring," Buijs said in his post-match interview. "Not only for the club, but also on the training field and to the other guys.

"We see it more and more because he is more involved. This is the end result. It is especially great for him. I am glad he got this reward. "

Would you like to see Robben on the international stage once again?

Let us know in the comments.

Topics: Football, Arjen Robben, Holland

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_