DBasia.news – Former Real Sociedad coach Philippe Montanier commented on Antoine Griezmann’s situation at Barcelona. Montanier thinks Griezmann joined the Blaugrana at the wrong time.
Griezmann joined Barcelona from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2019. The French player was brought to Camp Nou for a transfer value of up to 120 million euros.
However, Barcelona did not win a trophy in Griezmann’s first season. The Blaugrana failed miserably in the 2019/2020 season after only finishing runners-up in La Liga, stopping in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, and being eliminated tragically in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Montainer, who was Griezmann’s coach at Real Sociedad in 2011-2013, regretted the timing of his former protégé when he joined Barcelona. Barcelona is considered no longer one of the best teams in Europe.
“He came at a bad time, to Barcelona which is in crisis,” Montainer told La Voix du Nord as reported by Marca.
Griezmann’s performance with Barcelona is still the main topic of conversation. Since his first season at Camp Nou, Griezmann hasn’t shone.
Throughout the 2019/2020 season, he only produced 15 goals from 48 appearances in all competitions. While this season, Griezmann has only produced two goals in nine appearances in all competitions.
Montainer said Griezmann needed to enjoy himself in order to bring out his best. At present, Montainer thinks the 29-year-old striker is not enjoying his time at Barcelona.
“Antoine needs to have fun, play, joke around to bring out all his potential. That’s not the impression he gives (at this time),” concluded Montainer.