Madrid: Most of Atletico Madrid’s hopes of beating crosstown rivals Real Madrid will ride on the shoulders of Antoine Griezmann.
The 26-year-old France forward, who leads Atletico with 22 goals in all competitions this season, will be the focus of the team’s attack on Saturday as they try to derail Madrid’s march toward the title. And with strike partner Kevin Gameiro out with a left-leg injury, the burden will be even greater.
“(Griezmann) is one of the players who gives us life,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said Friday. “He has grown enormously because he has wanted to improve, to mature from a youth and be a man on the field. He is on track to consistently be one of the best in the world. We hope and need Antoine to be at his best for the end of the season.”
For Griezmann, a win that would help Atletico strengthen their hold on third place and an automatic Champions League berth is a matter of collective faith.
“I always believe in my team and my teammates. That’s why I feel like we are favoured,” the forward said.
Griezmann has proven to be just what Atletico hoped for when they secured his transfer from Real Sociedad in 2014.
He has blossomed into one of the league’s most creative and talented scorers with expert vision, a strong shot from distance, and speed.
While Atletico still have one of the best defences in Europe, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane applauded their improvements in attack under Simeone, and Griezmann.
“Everyone talks about how well they defend. They do defend well, but not only that,” Zidane said. “Since Simeone arrived they have gotten better and play better football. Their midfielders, their backs ... they all know how to play.”
Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for goals in the Madrid derby with 18 following his hat-trick in November to earn a 3-0 victory for Real Madrid at the Vicente Calderon Stadium.
“That was a great match by Madrid,” Griezmann said about their first league showdown this season. “They hurt us a lot, but now it is another story. We are playing well and hopefully can do things better.”
Now, 10 points adrift of Real Madrid and eight behind second-place Barcelona, Atletico’s chances of winning a trophy again rest in the European Cup, where they play Leicester in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Griezmann said that there would be no better way to prepare for the English team’s visit on Wednesday than a win over Real Madrid.
“We know that, beyond the points in play and the Champions League, we have to win this match for our fans,” Griezmann said. “I am sure that if we win it will give us even more confidence and help us for what lies ahead.”
Real Madrid boss Zidane knows a hitherto successful season will be quickly forgotten if his side blow their chances at à La Liga and Champions League double in the next two weeks.
Zidane’s men kick off a daunting 15-day stretch with the visit of Atletico on Saturday with Barcelona also to come to the Santiago Bernabeu on April 23 with a two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich in between times.
“We know that what we have done until now doesn’t mean anything, we haven’t won anything,” said Zidane.
“We have won some games but the league and the Champions League is in play.”
Even a Real legend like Zidane knows he is not guaranteed to remain as coach next season if he doesn’t deliver at least one major trophy by the end of the season.
“I am not preparing anything (for next season),” he added.
“I am focused on what remains of this season. You know the importance of this club, I know what the role entails for good and bad and so I am prepared for anything.
“I always talk about the next game because that is what matters to me until my last game as a coach here.”
— Agencies
