France manager Didier Deschamps has leaped to the defence of underfire striker Antoine Griezmann and believes Atletico Madrid’s poor form is behind his underwhelming performances.
Griezmann has come in for plenty of flack in Spain this season after failing to rediscover his best form for Diego Simeone’s side off the back of signing a bumper new deal over the summer.
The France international has been called to play in line with his new salary but Deschamps believes the form of the team is not helping bring the best out of the 26-year-old.
“Antoine is still Antoine, he has the same quality as he always has,” Football Espana quote Deschamps as saying at a press conference.
“Maybe at the moment he is not performing to his usual high standards but I am not worried at all, and all form is relative.
“It has to be viewed alongside how the team is playing and Atletico Madrid have not been convincing in many matches this season.”
Simeone’s side are already eight points adrift of La Liga leaders Barcelona but remain undefeated in league action thus far.
However, six of Atletico’s last eight matches have ended in a draw and they have not scored more than once in a single game since the end of September (vs Sevilla).
As for Griezmann, he has only managed to net twice in nine La Liga appearances and is without a goal in more than seven hours of league action.
