“I want more,” says Antoine Griezmann (Mâcon, France, 1994), with one of those trademark smiles that define him. Wide, lighting up his face, a sparkle in his eyes.
I didn’t feel stressed, but it’s true that it dragged on. Especially last season at the end, when my mind wasn’t focused on looking for it.
After everything that had happened in March, being out of almost every competition, it was very hard for me mentally. But once it got close, the goals ended up coming by themselves.
Yes, of course, because I had a lot of excitement and a lot of dreams, and in March almost the whole month wasn’t good for anyone and we lost the League and the Champions League, and my spirits dropped. It really hurt me mentally and that later showed in my game.
In the end, you always want to play. But I understand that I have to be professional, set an example for all my teammates and then show the manager that I can still play, that I have everything needed to play and fight for a place in the starting eleven.
That I want to play. I am very happy here in Madrid playing for Atleti and I think that is clear this season.
Because I want more. I still have many minutes, plenty in my legs and in my mind to play and be someone important at the club, and I know I have to prove that to everyone; I still want to be even more important. The role or the title of legend will be something to talk about in many years’ time.
Yes, but I don’t really like giving myself titles or things like that. There will be time to think about all of that and to keep proving every day that I can play.
No. They have talked about me since the first day I arrived and they will keep doing it until the day I leave. But as I’ve said, I am very happy here. Everyone knows that MLS is my dream and my goal, but I still have a contract; I want to keep renewing here and continue being important.
(Smiles widely) To win a League, a Champions League and a Cup. There is still a lot left to do and to keep bringing joy to the fans and to my teammates.
Yes, you always think about it. It’s true that even if I’d scored we might not have won, but it would have been a push for the team at an important moment in the match, when we were playing very well, and it wasn’t meant to be.
Yes, of course, and I will until I win the Champions League with Atleti (smiles softly).
I knew the club was doing everything possible to bring him in, so I had to send him a message of ten or twenty lines to convince him, telling him all the good things and how great the club, Cholo and the teammates are. In the end, thanks to insistence, he came to join all of us.
No. I think I only messaged him four times or so until he made his decision (laughs).
Yes, in the end, the more stars, so to speak, the better for the club and the more chances of winning. We try to have a good relationship on and off the pitch and I think that shows when we play together.
No, no.
I don’t know what year, but the mythical 4-4-2 side. It wasn’t necessarily the most talented team, but it was very well worked and everyone was completely focused on the same objective.