• Chronicle Atlético escapes unscathed from a poisoned match

  • Griezmann An SMS of "help", a plot and 40% less salary: this was the frantic hours that returned Atlético

There is no Atlético player (or any other team) who has scored more goals in the Metropolitano than Antoine Griezmann: 29. There is probably no one who has been whistled more harshly than Antoine Griezmann himself. The first thing, scoring goals, he did from the opening day, in that 1-0 against Malaga (2017). The second thing, being whistled with the red and white shirt, happened before and during the night of his return to the same stadium that worshiped him until his departure to Barcelona, ​​two summers ago.

There was a murmur when he went out to warm up with the rest of his teammates, whistled when the video scoreboard announced his name and gale when he stepped on the Metropolitan green again, now with number 8 on his back. "They are making a film and a morbid situation that has allowed us to recover an extraordinary footballer. We hope that he gets better and can respond to the people who are criticizing. He has a challenge out there," said Diego Pablo Simeone, convinced that his pupil, for whom he fought until the market closed for his return, will convince the fans with his football.

Minutes before the game time was due, the Argentine coach called Griezmann, who was warming up on the band with Lodi and Correa.

The Frenchman, like his other two companions, took off his training sweatshirt and waited in the band for his turn to come.

As happened on Sunday in Cornellà, only in reverse, he and

Joao Félix

, now the owner of that 7 that was his, took over.

The deluge came in the form of a fight in his first race on the grass.

There were also those who chose to get up to applaud him.

The fact is that, as the minutes passed, Antoine was redirecting the night.

Joao Félix and Griezmann, during the change.GABRIEL BOUYSAFP

"People will enjoy it again"

He could have done it even in a big way, having holed the rejection of goalkeeper

Diogo Costa

, just 10 minutes after his rentrée. It was almost 40 minutes in which he was fast and fresh and allowed Atlético to go up a gear in their offensive spirit. In added time, he also forced a direct red from

Mbemba

, when he was heading like a bullet towards the goal of Porto. "Griezmann has just arrived, you have to be calm," completed his coach, after starting the group stage with a goalless draw for the second time. The previous one, in 2017, against

Roma

, on a torrid night in the Italian capital, ended in tragedy. It does not occur to anyone that the scene could repeat itself.

"The fans are sure to be with him. He has had moments and flashes of a great footballer and he will show it throughout the season. He will give us many joys," proclaimed

Tomás

Reñones, Atlético spokesman, convinced that the Griezmann's second chapter will look a lot like the first.

The Frenchman will probably have his first chance on Saturday, against Athletic, given the muscular problems that forced his friend

Lemar

to withdraw from the game after half an hour.

An injury whose scope will be known this Thursday.

Maybe this time 7 and 8, that is, Joao Félix and Griezmann, will have the opportunity to play together.

"For us he is a super important player. He has had great nights here, he has experience and it is an important value that we have in the dressing room and I am sure that people will enjoy it again",

Rodrigo de Paul

settled

, after his first European night with Atlético .

It was the story of Griezmann's 259th game with Atlético.

That of the return home, to the Metropolitan, of a king who lost his crown.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • sports

  • Champions League

  • soccer

  • Atlético de Madrid

ChampionsJoao Félix: the day he left Porto, doctor Van Dijk's scalpel and a veto on his exchange with Griezmann

FootballTomás Reñones, Atlético's dark spokesman raised in the shadow of Jesús Gil

Champions League Barcelona buries its greatness

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