Simeone backs goalless Grizi

Diego Simeone urged Antoine Griezmann to stay “calm” after the Atletico Madrid forward’s seventh La Liga game without a goal on Saturday against Espanyol.

Griezmann failed to find the back of the net in Atleti’s stalemate with Espanyol, which left them nine points behind Real Madrid at the top of the table, despite Los Blancos’ 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the Clasico.

“The game was intense, nice in terms of Espanyol’s defensive work, which was almost perfect,” the Coach match said after the game.

“We tried in different ways, they had chances, as well ourselves, so the draw was very fair.

“The season is long, with difficulties for all teams, but the one with the most resistance will be closest to the title.

“The team looked [for the goal] in different ways, but when your opponents defend well, you can only congratulate them. There are many games that we’ve won like this.

“The goalkeepers? Ultimately, they were decisive, but prior to that, the sense of a goal was felt in a counterattack or loose ball.

“Griezmann? I see him to be very well, he’s working hard but sometimes it’s very difficult to keep making chances.

“He has to be calm, then the goals will follow, like everything in life.”

Tags Antoine Griezmann Diego Simeone
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