An image that we see a little too much lately -

Francois Mori / AP / SIPA

We had left Antoine Griezmann in the France team like this wounded little bird collected on the doorstep whose wounds we would have torn up in the hope that he could fly on his own.

In vain.

Grizou returns to Clairefontaine, suitcases full of uncertainties brought directly from Barcelona, ​​where his new coach, Ronald Koeman, is already slapping his fingertips.

"When I replaced Griezmann [at half-time against Celta], it was a tactical change," said the Dutchman in post-match conf.

When Ansu Fati is there, we have more depth, the pace is higher.

That's what we needed at Celta, with one less player.

Griezmann had opportunities, two great chances.

Considering his quality, he should have scored at least one goal.

Hello pressure.

3 days ago, Koeman decided to take Griezmann out in 42nd after Lenglet's red, to bring in a defender.



Tonight he was transparent again and came out after 60 minutes and 21 balloons touched.



We miss the old Griezmann 😪🇨🇵 pic.twitter.com/sH6MXkizEP

- PiedsCarrés (@PiedsCarres) October 4, 2020

Deschamps pleads Grizou's cause

Fortunately, the French international can count on his protector Didier Deschamps, who did not hesitate to defend himself at a press conference, with a diplomatic prelude.

"If I go in there, Koeman will not be happy to read my declass ..." Before finally getting his hands dirty.

Attention, tirade:

“He's used in systems, in positions where he's playing more on the right side.

Antoine, I had to use it on one side.

He can do it because he is a generous player with a large volume of play, but where he is most effective is in the axis, at the heart of the game, to be able to bind.

He even has the volume to sometimes find himself in the middle of the field, but he doesn't have the ability like other players on the side to take the ball, to eliminate, to provoke.

He needs to touch the ball a lot.

At Barça, there are other players, the coach makes his choices.

I will see him later, I am convinced that he is not happy with this situation.

He works according to the situations, the players.

He adapts, he never balks but to give his full potential when a player is in his best position is always better.

"

While waiting to settle once and for all his accounts with Barça, Antoine Griezmann can breathe.

Didier Deschamps has planned to make him play in his usual position with the Blues, where his performance is better.

And after that, maybe he'll hover over Camp Nou.

Sport

France-Croatia: Griezmann joins Zizou in the scorers classification of the Blues

  • Didier Deschamps

  • Sport

  • French football team

  • Antoine Griezmann