Antoine Griezmann thinks a hectic year for club and country has taken its toll despite a match-winning performance in Atletico Madrid s 3-2 triumph over Real Valladolid.
Griezmann laid on Nikola Kalinic s first-half opener before marking his 300th LaLiga appearance by converting a penalty after Kiko Olivas handled his shot on the stroke of half-time.
Atletico s usual solidity deserted them and, after Fernando Calero headed home from Michel s corner, Saul Niguez put through his own goal to make it all square in the 63rd minute.
It left Griezmann to pounce on a poor clearance from Oscar Plano and seal the points 10 minutes from time but France s World Cup-winning hero was not entirely satisfied with his performance.
I m glad we won. I m not quite yet at my best – it s been a long year with many games, he said.
I m maybe just lacking a bit of speed but I keep going.
Definition | « Decisive », by :
26 Assist for Kalinic
45 Penalty won
46’ Penalty converted
80 Winner
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish)
Griezmann revealed Atleti failed to heed half-time warnings from boss Diego Simeone over Valladolid s aerial threat.
It s usually a strong point of ours, to keep the goals out, he said. The coach said at half-time that we should stop the crosses from going in.
The fact we scored a third goal really helped us but we have to stop those crosses coming in.
There was a lengthy VAR delay before Griezmann emphatically put his penalty into the top-right corner and celebrated with one of his customary jigs.
Football is to enjoy and I decided to celebrate like that, he added. Obviously they were angered by the VAR but football is joy.
