He’s a World Cup winner and one of Barcelona’s most expensive signings, but Antoine Griezmann’s form has deteriorated so badly that coach Ronald Koeman can leave him on the bench without anyone putting him back. question his decision.
Antoine Griezmann has now played seven games without scoring or assisting – at least on Sunday he had an excuse. The French forward, who cost Barcelona around 125million euros ($ 154million) when signing in 2019, had been left on the bench for the third time this season for the away game at Huesca . When he came on in the 81st minute, Barcelona were in protection mode, trying to defend their slim 1-0 advantage. He barely touched the ball.
When they face Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday he could end up in the squad, but there is no guarantee that Ronald Koeman is looking to extend the team’s unbeaten streak to seven games. “I believe in all the players in our team,” said the Barcelona coach when asked about Griezmann. “But if I pick three midfielders there is only room for three attackers.” We want (Ousmane) Dembele alongside Leo (Messi) as he stretches teams. Then we have to choose between Martin (Braithwaite) and Antoine at the center-forward and Martin played well. “I don’t want to comment on the fact that Griezmann was a substitute. We have a lot of games to play and we will need all the players.”
If Koeman’s comments were designed to allay Griezmann’s concerns, they are unlikely to have had much effect. Koeman had admitted that the former Middlesbrough and Leganes striker Braithwaite is currently ahead of the World Cup winner France. The idea that Griezmann will get minutes because there are so many games has also been little comforting. He did not leave Atletico Madrid to become a useful team player. He was held back by a sign reading “Exit” at El Alcoraz stadium on Sunday, while his substitute colleagues warmed up. This sparked jokes on social media that he could be set to leave the club in January. It seems unlikely. Barcelona deputy chairman Carlos Tusquets does not have the power to sign loans or sales. And Barcelona’s elections won’t take place until January 24, leaving the new incumbent only a window week to try to refresh the Barcelona squad. Koeman admitted after the victory over Huesca that he would like a new striker, but said “it depends on a lot of other factors and it’s complicated”. Barcelona have no money to spend in the market. Griezmann’s departure would certainly raise funds, but the 29-year-old will likely wait and see what the future holds for him.
A new president could possibly mean a new coach and if Lionel Messi decides to leave this summer, Griezmann might think his time has come to become the team’s talisman. Critics say he was lucky enough to take on the role in Barcelona’s last game in 2020 when Messi rested and failed to take it on. It is a measure of the situation Barcelona find themselves in that Sunday’s victory was greeted with a reasonable level of contentment. In other eras, such a narrow victory over the league’s worst team would not have been cause for celebration.
As it stands, Barcelona go with renewed confidence to take on Athletic in what is Marcelino’s first game in charge after replacing sacked Gaizka Garitano. The big question is, will Griezmann be in the starting XI or not?
