“Very mentally tough”, Griezmann confesses

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By: Nicolas Gerbault

The figure that shows that Griezmann is no longer a top player
Antoine Griezmann has spoken about the psychological weight of Atlético Madrid’s collapse in La Liga and the Champions League last season, admitting that his morale had plummeted during the difficult month of March.

However, following the extension of his contract until 2027, the French striker is determined to win more titles with the club, aiming for major trophies and wishing to finally erase the memory of his missed penalty in the 2016 Champions League final.

Griezmann reveals his mental struggle after Atlético collapse

Top scorer in Atlético Madrid’s history, Griezmann spoke candidly about the psychological impact of his team’s poor run during the crucial final months of last season. In an interview with AS, the 34-year-old striker admitted that Atlético’s decline in La Liga and the Champions League in March had affected him deeply. Diego Simeone’s team entered this month at the top of the Spanish league, two points ahead of Barcelona and Real Madrid.

They were also preparing for a Champions League round of 16 matchup against their neighbors. Unfortunately for the Rojiblancos, their season collapsed in just over two weeks. They lost 2-1 to Real Madrid in the first leg, before suffering a setback in the league by losing by the same scoreline to Getafe. Despite a convincing second leg against Real, they were beaten on penalties in a controversial session. Four days later, they lost to Barcelona, ​​then drew against Espanyol. At the end of March, they were eliminated from the Champions League and fell nine points behind FC Barcelona, ​​future La Liga champion.

“It’s true that the road has been long. »

“Mentally, it was very hard,” said Griezmann. “ I had so much hope, so many dreams, and March was not a good month for anyone: we lost La Liga and the Champions League. My morale dropped, it affected me a lot mentally, and it had an impact on my performance afterwards. »

Griezmann confided that this “ psychological pain » had distracted him from his personal goal: scoring his 200th goal for the club, a milestone he ultimately achieved. “ I wasn’t overwhelmed by emotion, but it’s true that the road was long. Especially last year, at the end of the season, when I was not focused on this goal,” he explained. “When the 200th goal came and I got closer, the goals finally came naturally. »

Nicolas Gerbault

Written by:

Nicolas Gerbault

Nicolas Gerbault is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Nicolas discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, his expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Nicolas enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans.