Diego Simeone: “Atlético Madrid will miss Antoine Griezmann”

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 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. We’ll surely work to find players 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 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 have always been there and 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.”

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. 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 it’s clear that we’ve managed that dynamic very well.”

Simeone on planning for next season

“Yes, that would be great, but 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.”