Griezmann: “I stayed here because I felt that something incredible could be done and we are one step away”

Atlético de Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann has assured that before he faced games like this Tuesday’s, back from the Champions League semi-finals against Arsenal, “with a lot of stress”, but that now he does it “with much more desire and with much more joy” because they are “moments that you think are going to come back, and they don’t come back”, in addition to emphasizing that he always thought about staying in the team until the end of the season because he felt that “something incredible could be done”.

“I was always clear that my idea was to continue here because I felt that something incredible could be done, and I did not doubt it. We are one step away from playing another final, which is something historic. The team knows it, it is seen that there is a lot of calm and a lot of confidence to play it tomorrow. We have absolute confidence,” he declared at a press conference.

In this sense, he continues to “think” that this is not going to be his last game in the Champions League with the Colchonero team. “I keep thinking about it. I really want to get to tomorrow, I’m very excited. It’s going to be a nice game to play, to experience, and I hope we can have the level of attitude, pressure and play of the second half,” he said.

“I’m visualizing tomorrow’s game, what the coach and my teammates are going to need to arrive and know exactly what I have to do. I’m not much of a person who thinks about whether I have one or two left, I want to be fresh, my legs too. I’m looking forward to playing it and happy to give,” he continued.

He also explained that the Champions League matches “are always different, beautiful.” “I wanted to play them since I was a child. I’m not someone who talks a lot to the younger players, but rather gives them an example, that they see me with a lot of desire, with joy and with a lot of motivation to play the game. If there are things I can do tactically or technically to help, I will do it. I’m more into that, in helping my teammates. Kokín -Koke-, the captain, is more about talking, motivating people, reassuring with words; I’m more into action,” he stressed.

Still, he is not obsessed with being able to score. “It doesn’t matter if I score a goal or not, I prefer to pass or win a game than score a goal. I am calmer, calmer, before I saw it with a lot of stress, I played the games 50 times before playing the first second, and now I do it with more calm and tranquility, knowing what I can do, focusing only on that,” he said.

Furthermore, he confessed his change of mentality since the last Champions League final played. “That final was very different. I came to the games with a lot of stress. It was all at one speed and I didn’t know when to stop. Now I’m more of a player, more complete, and I’m calmer. I face the game with much more desire and with much more joy. These are moments that you think are going to come back, and they don’t come back. I have a lot of desire, a lot of joy and I’m going to enjoy it, and so will my teammates, because not everyone can play in a Champions League semi-final,” he recalled.

“Being fresh often comes from the head, from the mental. We always say that we are lucky to play every three days and you can’t stop and think about what you did in the last game; you have to think about what you can contribute, what you can improve, convince yourself that you are going to do well and you are going to help your teammates. You must have a good time, because it is a game. We are in a Champions League semi-final, it is something incredible and we can make history. We will do everything possible to be in the final and enjoy it,” he continued.

Finally, Griezmann acknowledged that he feels identified with Álex Baena, “a bit of the style of play” and because he is “a player who often played on the outside at Villarreal and who here has been more involved inside.” “He can provide many assists, many goals, and he knows very well where he has come, he knows that it costs a lot. I see myself very similar to him and I am sure that between ‘Cholo’, his teammates, the fans and him he will find the key so that he can explode,” he concluded.