Antoine Griezmann celebrates his 34th birthday in three weeks (March 21) but he has no interest in partying. Diego Simeone Atlético is launched in a second part of the season for the moment completely crazy. The Colchoneros are still in the La Liga title race and even exceeded Real Madrid on Saturday evening by winning against Bilbao (0-1), the Merengues having bowed in the Betis lair (2-1). And this, as approaching an eighth final of the terrible Champions League between the two clubs in the capital, with a first leg in Bernabéu next Tuesday (round return on Wednesday of the following week at Metropolitano).
The problem, for “Grizi” is that it has been clearly physically in a few weeks. Against Athletic on Saturday, the men of “Cholo” had a hard time being dangerous for an hour. Alexander Sorho, aligned from the start, was not served and, above all, Griezmann seemed disconnected from the rest of his team, unable to follow the rapid attacks on his teammates. The 2018 world champion was replaced in the 63rd minute by Angel Correa and two other entrants made the difference in the process: Marcos Llorente sent Julian Alvarez to the opening of the score (66th). Jan Oblak was then saved by its uprights three times!
Griezmann is HS
While Julian Alvarez has been torched since the start of the year (he is now at 21 goals and 5 assists in all competitions), Griezmann is struggling to make differences and his statistics are therefore a little blocked (16 goals, one in the championship for two months, and 7 assists, only one in liga since early October). The fetish player of Simeone was whispered physically at the worst time, he who has already offered particularly ghostly services at the start of the season. His genius gestures here are no longer enough. At this rate, his departure in MLS after the season (after the Club World Cup or not) will be justified.
Atlético followers wonder even if Griezmann would no longer be useful when leaving the bench, for the last 30 minutes of the big matches. Madrid training absolutely cannot play 10 on certain phases of play. “Antoine Griezmann, please, we expect much more from you. We trust you. Make us dream. You only have a few games left before winning the trophies (s) that you have not yet brought to the club ”,, for example, launched the “ATLETI Francia” account on X. France will have a careful eye on the performance of Kylian Mbappé next Tuesday. And on that of Griezmann.
