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Antoine Griezmann will return for Atletico Madrid in opposition to Espanyol however head coach Diego Simeone insisted his focus is on the crew dynamic and making certain his proficient attacking choices click on, fairly than people.
The France ahead made a outstanding transfer again from Barcelona, initially becoming a member of the reigning LaLiga champions on mortgage with both membership holding the choice to increase for an extra yr.
Griezmann scored 133 targets throughout 257 video games in his first spell earlier than that in the end ill-fated €120million transfer to the Catalan giants in 2019, and Simeone revealed his new loanee is relishing a homecoming.
“I discovered [Antoine] Griezmann desperate to return to Atletico Madrid, very enthusiastic in regards to the state of affairs of returning to the crew,” Simeone advised reporters on Saturday.
Nevertheless, the 51-year-old head coach needed to keep away from specializing in people as Atletico look to finish a three-game winless away run at Espanyol in LaLiga.
Luis Suarez, who has been concerned in 15 targets in 11 top-flight appearances in opposition to Sunday’s opponents, may hyperlink up together with his former Barca colleague Griezmann once more, although the France star will face a combat for a spot within the aspect given Atletico now boast a wealth of attacking expertise amongst their ranks.
Angel Correa has thrived as a assist striker, scoring 3 times within the first two LaLiga video games, as Atletico opened with back-to-back wins for the fourth time within the Simeone period.
Versatile attacker Matheus Cunha then arrived from Hertha Berlin for a reported €26m payment late within the switch window.
The Brazil ahead created 54 probabilities – rating him sixth amongst forwards in Germany – final season, whereas solely 5 forwards throughout the highest 5 European leagues accomplished extra dribbles than Cunha’s 123 since his arrival in Berlin again in January 2020.
Yannick Carrasco was the one Atletico participant to finish 100 dribbles in that point and the Belgian winger – typically used as a wing-back final time period – led membership charts for probabilities created (47) in LaLiga in 2020-21.
Add the likes of Joao Felix, Thomas Lemar, Marcos Llorente and Rodrigo De Paul to the equation and Simeone has a wealth of artistic skills to name on. Now he can look to Griezmann as properly.
Though his Barcelona spell might not have lived as much as expectations, he nonetheless netted 20 instances throughout 51 appearances in all competitions final season, offering 12 assists and creating 67 probabilities for Ronald Koeman’s aspect. That was two greater than he managed in 2017-18, arguably the best particular person marketing campaign of Griezmann’s profession.
However Simeone shouldn’t be kidding himself. Whereas he has nice expertise at his disposal, he wants them to click on.
“Inner competitors has grown and that leads us to compete higher,” Simeone continued.
“At first it’s straightforward to talk from the names. I consider in males and in how a crew is executed. We’re completely at all times in search of a crew.
“Names do not crew up, males do. We are going to go in that search of that dedication now we have in direction of the membership, at all times in search of the very best.”
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