Valdano jokes about how his interview changed Griezmann's fortunes

Antoine Griezmann has returned to form in the past couple of weeks, ever since he sat down with Jorge Valdano for a clear-the-air interview.

The Argentine has joked about how he should be receiving the credit for the Frenchman's turnaround.

"There are two theories, one is that the interview freed hm and the other is that it changed his luck," Valdano wrote in El Pais, looking back on that 'Universo Valdano' interview.

"Please don't underestimate me! What really happened is that I told him some things before we spoke.

"I said 'if you receive the ball in the area, stop it with the right and hit it with the left'. I told him 'if you're outside the area and the ball falls from the sky, volley it'. I instructed 'if you are at the front post for a cross, solve it with a backheel'.

"He did all of that. I gave him other instructions that I won't write here only out of modesty, but you'll see them come to fruition in the coming matches."