Ahead of the last home game of the season, Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone previewed an emotional farewell to legendary forward Antoine Griezmann, who will play his last game at the Metropolitano on Sunday against Girona.
Asked for his best moment alongside the forward, Simeone responded that, “there isn’t just one moment that can explain the relationship we’ve built, one of respect, admiration, and knowing how to be in the right place at the right time, without crossing that fine line between
coach, friend, and family”.
He continued, explaining that, “we have a great relationship with his family; we love him dearly”, and recalling how “he arrived very young and has grown in an extraordinary way, through tremendous personal effort, fully convinced of his talent and his standing, and he achieved the highest honor available to players by winning the World Cup; and he is Atlético Madrid’s all-time leading scorer”.
Simeone’s praise went on: “he commands an enviable level of respect from all his teammates, and honestly, I can’t pinpoint just one moment in our relationship. I remember the day he came to tell me, before leaving for Barcelona, that he was going to leave Atlético. It was painful, but it was a moment when he had to leave, because it was also good for him to realize everything that happened to him afterward. And when he returned, joy, happiness: we knew a genius was coming back. We had a genius for many, many years at Atlético Madrid, and we’ll surely miss him”.
Diego Simeone on replacing Griezmann
“Well, it’s clear we won’t be looking for another Griezmann, because there surely won’t be another like him, but we will look for players who can take charge of the team, just as he always did. The responsibility of carrying the team’s weight has fallen heavily on him these past years, and especially on Koke. And, well, they’re players who have achieved, with their experience, with their presence, I call it presence; sometimes it’s very hard to explain what presence is, and it’s not about weight in kilos, but the specific presence a person has on the field. Antoine had it, and, well, we’ll surely work to find people who have that kind of personality.”
Simeone on Griezmann’s legacy
“Actually, the way I think he’d like to be remembered: as a great person, just as he is, setting aside the athlete. A noble guy, a kind guy, a responsible guy, a guy who has always been willing to do whatever Atlético Madrid needed, who had the humility to come back and start over, to win people over again, people who, obviously, because of their love for the club, were upset at the time. And, well, I think he’ll surely want to be remembered at Atlético Madrid for the person he is, not to mention the insatiable goal-scorer he’s been.”
Simeone on his emotions about the farewell, and when Griezmann came on against Atleti as a sub for Barcelona
“We messed around a bit, I said, ‘they’re only giving you five minutes?’ But, well, yes, obviously tomorrow will be an important day for him and his family, above all, because we also have to remember that there’s a family behind him who’s always been there and has supported him to, obviously, become the person and the player he is. What it does, obviously, generate and will generate tomorrow, emotionally speaking, is the feeling that comes with the departure of a player as important as Antoine has been. It’s clear that tomorrow we hope to play a great game. I’d like, and I’m sure it will happen, for our fans to give everything they can to a guy who gave everything, and, well, not much more.”
Simeone on saying goodbye to a legend
“I think we’ve seen it before; the club, so to speak, has been represented by several players of Antoine’s caliber. Fernando Torres immediately comes to mind, incredible, and a lot of guys who’ve gone through that tough, difficult departure, because the years go by and, obviously, we need to keep competing. And, well, accepting the esteem people hold you in isn’t easy, but it’s understandable, because we all go through that stage as footballers where a great era comes to an end. I think the club has handled it very well, and I have no doubt that, in that sense, tomorrow will be a repeat of something that’s been happening for several years now, and the club has been managing it very well.”
Simeone on whether Griezmann is irreplaceable
“Not irreplaceable, because I think in life no one is irreplaceable, no one. But he is a special player, a player with whom, beyond the professional relationship we’ve had, we share a very close personal bond, and, well, it’s clear that we’ve managed that dynamic very well.”
Simeone on planning for next season
“Yes, that would be great, but, well, we’ll see how the transfer market plays out. We’re aware of the potential departures and the need to go out and find replacements, something all teams have to do. Hopefully, with Apollo’s arrival, we’ll be strong enough to keep growing as a team, especially since, as a club, we’ve clearly grown tremendously, but we need to keep growing as a team.”
