Simeone full of praise for in-form Atletico star Griezmann

Sport360 staff 08:20 24/09/2015
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  • Star: Griezmann.

    Diego Simeone lauded Antoine Griezmann after the striker’s stunning start to the season continued with another two goals in Atletico Madrid’s 2-0 win over Getafe.

    The France international enjoyed a fruitful pre-season campaign and has already scored five goals in all competitions. He scored twice in the 2-0 win away to Galatasaray in the Champions League last week and repeated the trick again on Tuesday night and Simeone says the sky is the limit for the 24-year-old.

    He said: “He is in excellent shape, has grown so much and he is a key player for the team. His future will depend just on him.”

    Summer signing Jackson Martinez laid on an assist for Griezmann’s second goal and Simeone was quick to praise the striker after the game.

    “He entered the pitch very well and assisted Griezmann for the second goal,” added the Argentine. “He is an enthusiastic worker and will try to fulfill the expectations we have of him.”

    Tiago started the game on the bench before being introduced in the second half, with Saul preferred alongside Gabi in the heart of Atletico’s midfield.

    However, Simeone says the veteran still has a big part to play at the club. “He is a very important player to us. He is the brain of the team.

    He knows what the team needs and you only can know it with experience. “When he entered, the team changed and stopped suffering. Atletico improved from that moment and took control of the game.” 

    Real Sociedad boss David Moyes, meanwhile, was pleased his team had got what they “deserved” from their much-needed 3-0 win at Granada.

    Moyes’ side had taken just two points from their first three La Liga games of the season, and the former Everton and Manchester United manager was under increasing pressure after a 3-2 home loss to Espanyol last weekend.

    But La Real were always in control in the game at Granada’s Los Carmenes stadium after going ahead early through centre-forward Imanol Agirretxe, who ended the night with a hat trick.

    The Scot was happy to get the three points and was quick to emphasise the team’s previous position near the foot of the table had been slightly unfair.

    “I’m pleased – we deserved to win, the same as in other games when we had deserved more,” Moyes said. “Today we scored the goals, so I am happy. We made more chances today than before – not just the goals.”

    Long-serving La Real striker Agirretxe was preferred in the starting XI to €8 million (Dh33m) summer signing Jonathas, and repaid Moyes’ faith by scoring what was the first La Liga treble of his career.

    “I didn’t know it was his first hat trick, but he is a player who scores goals,” Moyes said. “He has shown that at training, you can see his ability to score goals.”

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