"Grizi" is back! After long months spent in the dark and a poor start to the season, due to a series of badly arranged loans, Antoine Griezmann has returned to the forefront. The Frenchman has become a key part of Diego Simeone's game, and in the space of a few weeks he has once again become the striker that Atletico needed.
The Little Prince is the club's top scorer this season (6) and must now take the Colchoneros to the Champions League. A difficult task even against a struggling Leverkusen, given that Atletico have not scored a single goal in European competition since September 7th.
Return to the roots?
Since Antoine Griezmann officially signed a contract with Atletico until 2026, the player seems to be blossoming and regaining his former form. The Colchoneros have switched back to a defensive system (4-4-2), which is always advantageous for the Frenchman. Previously used as a false 10 by Simeone, Griezmann has remained in a free role despite his position on paper.
Thus, he makes the fans and his team happy and takes advantage of this to be in good mental condition. Indeed, he has always evolved according to his state of mind. If he is in a good period he can do miracles.
The fact that he started the season on the bench did not tarnish his desire to do well. Every time he came on, even for 30 minutes, he was useful and decisive for the team. Now that he is a starter, he is provoking actions where Atletico are failing.
Griezmann creates play in transitions, offering decisive passes to his teammates (the last one against Rayo Vallecano for example (1-1)) or even coming back to help in defence when the situation requires it. He also has a tendency to be extremely incisive as soon as a counter-attack is launched. The perfect all-round striker that was previously left unused.
Now he is back in the game and promises to keep up the momentum.
"I'm doing my best to improve and help the team, I'm working to score and help produce. I feel good and I'm going to continue like this," he said after the superb 2-1 win over Betis on Sunday.
Freshness for the World Cup
One of the people to be happy about this comeback is Didier Deschamps, the national team coach.
Antoine Griezmann has not really excelled in recent times in the French team. He has been a shadow of his former self, not very good in front of goal, and completely lost in attacking transitions. This is probably about to change... Just in time for the World Cup.
France will be able to count on him in top form, comfortable, and he will be keen to make history again.
