Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone insists Antoine Griezmann is still some way from competing with the world’s best players, despite his brace at Las Palmas.
Griezmann brought his tally up to 18 goals for the season with another two in Atleti’s 3-0 victory at Gran Canaria on Sunday, which kept them top of La Liga, but Simeone was keen to stress the Frenchman needed to “continue growing, only focus on himself and move forward”.
“We displayed strength [in the second half] because we exploited the spaces left by our opponents,” the Coach said after the game.
“[Las Palmas] played well in the first few minutes and created chances, which [Jan] Oblak knew how to stop.
“The contribution of the players who came off the bench [Thomas Partey and Yannick Carrasco was key for us.
“They quickly understood what was happening in the game and helped us unlock it. We brought on quick players so they could freshen things up.
“Griezmann was given a hard time by their goalkeeper at first but then capitalised on Las Palmas’ high pressure.
“He is young, hardworking and talented but must continue growing, only focus on himself and move forward [in his career] because his time will come, like everything in life.
“[On whether Atleti deserved the win], that’s for you [journalists] to decide. We live for results.”
