Front Antoine Griezmann stated that he struggled to adjust to life in Atlético Madrid after rejoining LaLiga champion from Barcelona last summer.
The France international stars this week in Atletico’s dramatic 3-1 away win against FC Porto to ensure eligibility for Champions League round 16, but both he and his teammates have not played stably this season.
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Atletico go into Sunday’s derby with Real Madrid 10 points behind rivals in the same city on the La Liga table.
“Honestly, at first, I struggled,” Griezmann told ESPN. “It was a rhythm I wasn’t used to, a new system for me. I had to take that and incorporate it into my own style of play.
“In the end I got better and I feel better on the pitch. To reach the next round of the Champions League is very important for me.”
Griezmann, 30, spent five years at Atletico – becoming the fourth-highest goalscorer in the club’s history – before moving to Barcelona in 2019.
After two ups and downs at Camp Nou, he back to Wanda Metropolitano in August on a season-long loan, with Atletico obligated to make the deal come into effect the following summer.
His contributions in La Liga so far have been inconsistent, with three goals in 12 appearances, but he played a key role in sending Atletico out of Group B of the Champions League, scoring four, including the opening goal in the must-win clash with Porto.
A win for Atletico in Sunday’s derby would put them about seven points behind leaders Real with a game in hand.
“At the end of the day, there are three points at stake,” said Griezmann. “I don’t think how many points they’re leading really doesn’t matter, because it’s been a really long season, last year we saw that… we still have to fight for the title. signal until the final match.
“I think we can take something out of that. The league still has a lot and a lot of games to play.”
Diego Simeone’s side entered the game facing a defensive injury crisis, with four out of seven defenders – Stefan Savic, Jose Maria Gimenez, Kieran Trippier and Sime Vrsaljko – all are likely to be absent, while the striker Luis Suarez is also a doubt.
Real, who are also waiting on the fitness of the striker Karim Benzema, have won their last nine matches in all competitions.
“Real Madrid has been one of the best teams in the world for many years,” added Griezmann. “They’ve always been there. It’s a derby for us, so it’s very important for the fans and the club. You’re playing for each club’s pride. It’s going to be a game. great match to watch.”
