Griezmann made it 1-1 in the 84th minute of the match against Milan and removed a slab from above. The French striker had barely had an impact on the game in the five previous games he had played: Espanyol, Athletic, Getafe and Alavés, in LaLiga, and Porto, in the Champions League. Five games with zero goals and zero assists. A poor baggage for a player who arrived with the decisive band. Criticism began to rage after that poor start on his return to the Madrid team and even Simeone had to come to his defense when talking about the moment of the French striker.
Griezmann scored at the right time. He came to the rescue of his team when he needed it most and With that goal, the Atlético fans are forgiven. A fan who received him with whistles in his first game at the Wanda Metropolitano, but later applauded him. The goal against Milan will mean a before and after for Griezmann in the Madrid team. The forward admitted after the clash against the Champions League that he did not feel comfortable in these first matches. The goal will make him see the future with more optimism.
The goal, in addition, means that it enters the history of the Madrid entity. Griezmann appeared tied with Luis Aragonés as the top scoring players in European competitions. TAfter his goal, that classification is already led by the French striker alone, who has scored 28 goals for Atlético in Europe. Of them, 22 have made them in the Champions League. No rojiblanco has scored as many goals as he has in the first continental club competition. Luis Aragonés did 12.
Griezmann, on the other hand, knows that both his teammates and the coach are by his side. Everyone has defended him in public every time they have asked him about the French and his lack of goals. Koke in the preview of the match. And João Félix at the end of the clash in Milan. Everyone knows what he can bring to the team. And that his goals can get the team out of more than one trouble. Nobody doubts its quality. No one doubts that he came this season to fight for all the titles. Against Milan he had the first great joy of the season. “We want to make Atlético fans happy”. And his goal achieved the goal. Atlético took a giant step forward to qualify for the group stage. With Griezmann in a stellar plan. That's what he came for.