Monday, Didier Deschamps paid a nice tribute to Antoine Griezmann, who announced his international retirement. This Thursday at a press conference, the Blues coach again had a few words for the Atlético de Madrid player. “This is not a decision made on a whim. It was taken by Antoine after a reflection which matured and came to fruition, like other players before. Today, he is 33 and a half years old, he has rarely been injured, but it is a natural question that all players can ask themselves with all these physically and psychologically tiring seasons. In his reflection, which he will specify, he made this decision and it is a decision that he obviously accepts and which suits him well, in the sense that it is not forced. We can always find good or bad arguments…”
He continues: “you can’t have all the elements, I have a little more than you. But I’m not going to get into any discussions I can have with the players. He was already thinking about it during the last competition, as happened to Hugo (Lloris), Raphaël (Varane). But there is this calendar fatigue. I had a very nice discussion with him and I had an Antoine who had come full circle. But having had the privilege of having Antoine since 2014 with all his footballing and human qualities, I had a special relationship with him. It’s obviously funny today because he was almost always with us. It’s his decision, I repeat, I can only thank him for everything he was able to do and bring to the France team. He is not stopping his career, but he is a very good example for young people because he did not have a linear and fluid career. On a human level, he’s a very endearing person and it hasn’t been easy with the French team. He had complicated periods, but he was always someone extremely generous, a leader in his own way… He had his place, there was no need to try to convince him. This was not Antoine in deep thought. He had already made his decision after careful consideration. Without his decision, he would be here today.” DD, who didn’t try to dissuade Grizi, and the Blues will have to do without him now…
