Madrid (AFP)
Antoine Griezmann, signal lost: despite the return of the attacking trio "MSG" Tuesday against Bilbao (1-0), the French striker is still struggling to find his place in a declining FC Barcelona, before moving to Celta Vigo Saturday (3:00 p.m. GMT) for the 32nd day of Liga.
Where did the Griezmann of Atlético Madrid and the French team go? Since his arrival at Barça last summer for five years and 120 million euros, "Grizi" has still not returned to its best level, although the fearsome blaugrana attack trident with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez has made his come back Tuesday ... staying silent.
After a very mixed first season in Catalonia, this new silence comes at the worst of times: the sixfold Ballon d'Or Messi seemed to be extinct, like Luis Suarez, who returned from an operation to the meniscus of the right knee in January ... And all this allowed Real Madrid to take back the top spot in Liga for the benefit of the special difference.
- Less goalscorer than Ramos -
The return of the Uruguayan center-forward forced the French world champion to find a more lateral position, more restrictive than that which he occupied at Atlético or with the Blues.
"Even if he is positioned on the wing, he always tends to go inward. He is a player who can adapt perfectly. He will never be told to really play on the wing, glued to the touch, "said new Catalan coach Quique Setién on June 18 at a press conference.
"He has another profile, he brings us a lot of things inside the field: a lot of markdowns, breaks, he comes to support ... It is not a player who is restrained by the position where we position ", supported the blaugrana technician.
With 8 goals in 28 La Liga matches, "Grizou" is far from its best Madrid totals (22 goals in 37 games in 2014-2015 and as many in 38 games in 2015-2016). He has as many as ... Real Madrid central defender Sergio Ramos, author of a clear free kick Wednesday against Mallorca (2-0).
Still silent since the La Liga's recovery on June 11, Griezmann scored a goal against Leganés ... canceled for an offside position.
"The season is coming to an end and Griezmann has yet to make his mark at Barça. (...) After so many matches, there have been few goals, and above all, the realization that he is no longer at all the player he was at + Atléti +. After so many procrastinations, finally, Griezmann was wrong in his choice (to come to Barça) ", said Alfredo Relaño, ex-director now columnist of the sports newspaper Spanish As, this Friday.
- "To be loved" -
"Griezmann is a great footballer, we count on him and he will continue to play a leading role. He is an extremely important player for this team," said Setien on June 15.
"At Barça, he does work, but does not contribute to the attack. They are not looking for him. Then appeared Ansu Fati, who immediately preceded him in terms of brilliance and participation," said Relaño , highlighting the emergence of the Spanish nugget of 17 years, which brings the freshness necessary to wake up the front of the blaugrana attack in the end of matches.
Lionel Messi, who greeted the Frenchman with suspicion last summer after the latter hesitated for a long time before signing at Barça, is struggling to establish a stable connection with him, while the two will seek to relaunch themselves on Saturday in Vigo.
"The conductor Messi composes his symphony by playing only three keys: Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Ansu Fati," said ex-Madrid player Jorge Valdano, now the respected football voice in Spain, in the newspaper El Pais this Wednesday.
Difficulties settling down who work French. The celebration of his first official goal at Barça, against Betis (5-2 on October 25 at Camp Nou), had been symptomatic of his lack of recognition: he had prepared a package of blue party favors which he had scattered over of his head in front of the supporters, drawing a magic moment.
"A clear gesture to be loved," said Relaño on Friday.
© 2020 AFP