Antoine Griezmann has once again been in the media spotlight, but this time for some comments about his recent experience with the French national team. During an interview with Telefoot, the French striker hinted that his participation in the last European Championship was not what he expected. His words have caused a stir not only in Les Bleus' entourage, but also at Atlético.
Griezmann and his annoyance with the French national team
Antoine Griezmann has been a key figure for France in major tournaments such as the 2018 World Cup, where they were crowned champions, and the 2016 Euro Cup, where they were finalists. However, the last Euro Cup did not leave a good taste in the mouth of the Atleti player, who, despite his commitment to the team, was unable to perform at the level he had hoped for.
In the interview, Griezmann spoke openly about his frustration at not having the role he had hoped for: "There were a lot of positional and tactical changes, and we had to deal with that. I had done my preparation with Atlético to be in good physical shape. If I had scored the two goals against Holland, my Euros would have been different." Although he acknowledged that tactical decisions must be respected, he did not hide his displeasure: "Against Poland and Spain, I was upset not to play."
These words, which reveal a discomfort with the role assigned to him in certain matches, have set off alarm bells at Atlético de Madrid. For a player like Griezmann, these types of situations can have repercussions on his morale and, eventually, on his performance at club level.
The importance of the environment for Griezmann
Griezmann has been clear: his game depends a lot on his mental well-being. "If I'm happy, everything is fine. If I have doubts or questions, it shows straight away," he confessed in the interview. These words underline the importance of the striker being surrounded by a favourable environment both in the national team and at Atlético de Madrid.
At the red-and-white club, the Frenchman has found a home and a coach who understands him perfectly. Simeone knows that he must give him freedom on the pitch so that he can display his full potential. However, the situation experienced in the French national team could generate some concern about how this will affect his performance at Atlético.