Griezmann 2021: five goals & four assists in January show big change

"Every week something happens. They put me in some controversy with Leo (Messi), they say I'm going in January, a candidate for the presidency says they wouldn't have signed me... I can't enjoy myself."

In November, Antoine Griezmann spoke the truth. He wasn't enjoying himself and it told on the pitch. Until then, he was Barcelona's great enigma. Until then he'd preferred to isolate himself from everything said about him. And when he spoke he kept a low profile.

Something changed with the interview with Valdano. "It's time to put things in their place, because I've been holding things and comments in for a long time and now it's time to say enough." Griezmann told his truth in an act of liberation.

A few days later, Valdano explained his sensations. "Griezman doesn't want anyone to cloud his relationship with Messi."

It was something that could be perceived. The Frenchman was uncomfortable about everything said about his relationship with the Argentine since he signed. Adding to that external pressure was his undefined role in the team and a position that he felt didn't benefit him.

But something changed after that interview. It was clear in the following games and Valdano even joked about it. He explained that he had given Griezmann three pieces of advice.

"If you receive the ball in the area, stop it with your right foot and cross with the left (Dynamo Kiev). If you're outside the area and the ball's dropping to you, hit it on the volley and aim for the angle (Osasuna). If you connect with a cross at the far post, just flick the ball to go between the goalkeeper's legs (Ferencvaros)."

Still with a 4-2-3-1 formation, Griezmann enjoyed several games as the No. 10, the position he played for Atletico Madrid and with France. And there he played some of his best games for Barça.

Starting again

That was a mirage and, returning to 4-3-3, Griezmann seemed to return to the situation from his first season at the club. Once again on the left, with Messi as a false nine and Ousmane Dembele on the right.

It happened in December against Levante after the Juventus disaster. That seemed to damage Griezmann but the Frenchman has grown as the team have improved.

And he's achieved it where no one expected: on the left wing. And in January we've seen a huge change: Five goals (three in La Liga and two in the Supercopa) and four assists.

Koeman has used Griezmann in every position in attack but no one expected these numbers to arrive from the left wing

Barça have found a structure based on the solidness of Ronald Araujo and the synergy between Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Messi. From there, players like Dembele and Griezmann have turned their performances around.

The former Atletico forward has 10 goals and six assists in 28 games this season. But beyond the numbers, the big change is that he's enjoying himself.

You only have to see how he celebrates goals or how he connects with Messi on the pitch. The presence of Dembele has also contributed to his improvement, a player he gets on well with on and off the pitch.

It's not the Griezmann of Atletico or France, because he plays in a different position and has a different role. But it's the version that Barça need from him with Messi on the pitch.

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