Simeone made reference to Griezmann in the press conference after the match against Getafe. The Atlético coach praised the Frenchman and was very optimistic about the forward's future: “We are lucky to have him and I'm sure he will perform as we hope.” He also made it clear that “he is in the process of adapting to this new Atlético, which is not the Atlético he was in.” And Cholo, without saying it, seemed to ask for some time for this new acclimatization of the tip. Griezmann, for the moment, resembles the one who has played for Barcelona and does not raise his head at Atlético. With him in the field, the Madrid team has not scored a single goal. Against Porto and Athletic, Simeone's team remained at zero. And against Espanyol and Getafe the goals came when the Frenchman was no longer on the pitch.
Griezmann has been a starter in the three league games since he joined the rojiblanco team. Simeone showed blind faith in him, although he did not complete any of the three. He played 59 minutes against Espanyol, 55 against Athletic and 67 against Getafe. In the Champions League, against Porto, he was a substitute and entered the place of João Félix. The Frenchman has not had specific weight in the team and so far it has not been decisive in any of the three meetings. Criticisms of the Frenchman have already come, as in 'Foot Mercato'.
Against Getafe he went from less to more and before being changed he had two shots on goal that could have been a goal. A shot went very high and the second was about to suppose his first goal in this second stage of rojiblanco. With numerical superiority, and already with Cunha on the field for Griezmann, and with Atlético launched into the attack, the team was much more ambitious in the attack.
Griezmann started against Getafe as a second striker, close to Luis Suárez, although with total freedom of movement. He entered on the left wing. Simeone also took Correa and Carrasco out. The Argentine played as a midfielder on the right and Carrasco as a left-handed inside. The difference between Atlético today and that of his previous stage seems obvious.
Now it is a more combinative team, that likes to play close to the rival area. An Atlético with many quality players close to the opposing goal, with many offensive options. So he was a more counter-punishing Atlético. A Madrid team with Griezmann as a pitcher for fast footballers like Fernando Torres or Gameiro. A team with less possession, more vertical and that played far away from the opposing goal. Now there is Suárez as a center forward, one more player from the area, less explosive and who Atlético looks for in the last meters. Griezmann does not appear, although he is expected. Simeone, his teammates and the rojiblanca fans await him.