Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has highlighted the importance of “different level” Antoine Griezmann ahead of their LaLiga clash with Alaves on Sunday.
Simeone’s side will look to make it three wins from their last four in the league when they welcome Alaves to the Metropolitano on Sunday.
Griezmann has been a man in form and has been key in Atletico’s recent good run, and he has found the back of the net five times in his last six matches in all competitions.
A goal in their midweek Copa Del Rey victory over Deportivo La Coruna took his season tally into double figures and he will be looking to continue that good run to boost Atletico’s Champions League push.
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Simeone told a press conference: “What more can I say? He’s always been a player who stands out, with a different level of skill than the rest.
“Talent is never lost. We need him. How much? As much as the team gives him, the needs that the coach sees in this case, what he can give.
“Maintaining all the enthusiasm he transmits. Because when he’s doing well, he always gives important things to the team.”
It is the first time Atletico will play in front of their own fans since December 13 when they beat Valencia 2-1.
They have also let four players leave the club during the January transfer window without bringing in any players yet, including Conor Gallagher who moved to Tottenham.
Simeone is happy to get back in front of the home fans and admits he is still thinking about which players to bring in before the window shuts at the end of the month.
He added: “It’s a game in which we’ll be back with our fans, whom we haven’t seen for a month, so we need everyone’s support, we want to play a good game.
“They (players) know me, they know that I take each game as it comes, trying to focus as much as possible on tomorrow’s opponent, and from there, we behave with only tomorrow’s game in mind.
“We are working according to what the team needs. When something comes up that the club and we are thinking about, we will say so.”
