Atletico in fight for survival
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Simeone’s team will bank on Griezmann and favourable results elsewhere
MADRID: As a red-hot Antoine Griezmann hopes to keep Atletico Madrid’s faint Champions League hopes alive at Stamford Bridge, the stage is also set for the Frenchman to showcase his talents to a host of Premier League suitors.
Atletico need to beat Chelsea in London on Tuesday and hope Roma don’t beat Champions League debutants Qarabag in the Italian capital if they are to make the last 16.
The financial blow an early exit would bring to Atletico, who moved into the new 310 million euro ($369 million) Wanda Metropolitano stadium earlier this season, could precipitate Griezmann’s departure from the Spanish capital.
But for his loyalty to Atletico and in particular coach Diego Simeone, Griezmann could have already been out the door last summer. A number of sides, led by Manchester United, seemed willing to meet his 100 million euro buyout clause, but when Atletico’s appeal against a transfer ban was rejected in June Griezmann agreed to stay on.
Griezmann admitted at the time it would have been “dirty” to walk out on Atletico when they couldn’t replace him since it is they who propelled him into the European football elite after signing him from Real Sociedad in 2014. That loyalty hasn’t been wholly rewarded however, with many Atletico fans unhappy at Griezmann’s frequent flirting with other sides.
“Formonthsnowmynamehas come out linked with Manchester United,” Griezmann wrote in his newly-released autobiography ‘Behind the Smile’.
“At Real Sociedad I realised I had reached a moment where I had to move to keep progressing, that has not happened at Atletico Madrid. Although, again, I rule nothing out.”
The backlash to Griezmann’s public comments peaked when he was jeered off as he was substituted during a goalless Madrid derby two weeks ago.
Having won just two and scored seven goals in their previous 10 matches, Atletico have won four in a row, netting an
only one point from their home game against CSKA Moscow to finish the group stage in top spot.
in 20 European home games, but CSKA have won all four matches on their travels this season having come through qualifiers.
two weeks ago kept Diego Simeone's Atletico in contention going into the last round of matches, but victory for Roma over debutants Qarabag will see them eliminated.
Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to have any chance, with Antonio Conte's Blues needing a win to guarantee top spot ahead of Roma.
expected to have qualified before the final matchday, but they play Olympiacos still needing a win to definitely progress. They have to win their match and hope Sporting do not beat Barcelona.
wrapped up top spot and may rest players against Sporting.
and Paris Saint Germain have already qualified for the knockout phase but their clash in Bavaria will determine who will top the group.
to beat PSG by four goals to go on top but will also, be looking to avenge their 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Parisians in the reverse fixture.
average of three goals a game.
After Griezmann’s fourth in three games with a late winner against his former side Sociedad on Saturday, he was grappled in a United win CSKA win Chelsea win Olympiacos Draws win Bayern win Draws Draws Atletico win Juventus win PSG win bear hug by Simeone that showed his was fully back in the fold.
One of the best nights in Simeone’s glorious six years at the helm in Madrid came at Stamford Barcelona v Sporting, live on Sony Six & HD
Bayern v PSG, live on Sony Ten 1 &HD
Olympiacos v Juventus, live on Sony ESPN & HD Chelsea v Atletico, live on Sony Ten 2 & HD
Man United v CSKA Moscow, live on Sony Ten 3 & HD Bridge in 2014, when he outwitted Jose Mourinho in a 3-1 win that took his side to the first of their two recent European finals.
Should they fail to replicate that performance against Conte’s men on Tuesday and not get a helping hand from Qarabag it could be the beginning of a long goodbye for star man Griezmann.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says he will not risk Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their Champions League match against CSKA Moscow as he keeps one eye on the derby with Manchester City on Sunday.
United require only a point from the match to be sure of qualifying for the knockout stage of the European Cup as winners of Group A. However, they are eight points behind table-topping City in the Premier League table so Mourinho will not take any chances with Ibrahimovic.
“Zlatan is not injured,” Mourinho said in his pre-match press conference on Monday. “Zlatan needs some time of very hard work on the muscular area that supports the knee that had the problem. “When the time for that hard work comes the fatigue comes. To work really hard for a certain period of time, he cannot play these days.
“We decided to do that after Watford. He is on his cycle of work divided between the gym and the pitch. He will be out again for tomorrow, but I believe he will be back to normal work after CSKA.”
GUARDIOLA REGRETS POGBA’S DERBY MISS
MANCHESTER: Pep Guardiola says he wishes Manchester City could face Paul Pogba when the Premier League leaders bid to re-write the history books in their huge derby with Manchester United.
Pogba fanned the derby flames in a weekend interview in which he quipped that he hoped City suffer injuries this season only to then rule himself out of Sunday’s game by being sent off for a stamp on Hector Bellerin in United’s 3-1 win at Arsenal on Saturday.
“He said that?” said Guardiola when asked about Pogba’s comments. “Hopefully we have no injuries and I wish that Paul could play against us. I like to face a team with their best players possible to see who we are able to beat.
“In the end I think it was just an expression. I’m pretty sure he didn’t want our players to get injuries.”
MESSI’S STATUE VANDALISED AGAIN
BUENOSAIRES: The statue of Lionel Messi in Buenos Aires has been vandalised again -- this time the Argentine hero was cut off at the ankles between Sunday night and Monday morning.
Messi’s boots still chased a ball on the plinth while the severed body was pushed to the ground and left lying there. The statue was first attacked in early January when the Barcelona star was sliced in half across the torso.
SOUTHGATE SAFE EVEN IF ENGLAND FAIL
LONDON: England manager Gareth Southgate has been told his job is safe even if his side lose all their group matches at next year’s World Cup in Russia.
Southgate took the reins on a permanent basis 12 months ago on a four-year contract and oversaw a successful qualification for the 2018 showpiece event.
“Gareth has a long-term contract. We’ve got a long-term plan,” said Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn , quoted in the English press on Monday.“he’s not looking at Russia as a free pass. The World Cup’s a really important staging post for our development, I think.”
“We go out there wanting to win it but also being realistic,” said Glenn. “No-one wants to have a bad World Cup but we’re confident he’s the right guy to take us through for the next few tournaments.”
ANCELOTTI SAYS NOT INTENT ON ITALY JOB
MILAN: Carlo Ancelotti says he has been approached by Italian FA about the possibility of coaching the national side but that he prefers to keep working in club football.
Ancelotti, sacked by Bayern Munich in September, said he was honoured that Italians see him as the man to replace Gian Piero Ventura who was fired after Italy astonishingly failed to qualify for next year’s World Cup.
However, he added: “It would be a completely different job. I want to continue coaching in club football. I still enjoy training and working every day.
“Italian football has some problems and I don’t think I can solve them on my own, it’s the whole system that needs to be changed,” he told the “Domenica Sportiva” programme on state broadcaster Rai.
VALENCIA FALL TO FIRST DEFEAT AT GETAFE
MADRID: Valencia blew a huge chance to move within two points of Barcelona at the top of La Liga as they slumped to a first defeat of the season, losing 1-0 at Getafe on Sunday.
The visitors’ disappointment was also compounded by the fact Getafe played for 65 minutes a man down after Mauro Arambarri was sent off midway through the first half.
Valencia are now just a point ahead of Atletico Madrid in third.