Atlético Madrid head coach Diego Simeone has this afternoon provided an update on the wellbeing of star man Antoine Griezmann.
As much, of course, comes as Atlético prepare for a potentially season-defining outing on Thursday night.
The Rojiblancos are primed to make the trip to Athletic Club in a little over 24 hours’ time, for the 2nd leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final tie between the clubs.
As things stand, it is the latter who boast the advantage, owing to a hard-fought 1-0 victory at the Wanda Metropolitano earlier this month.
Safe to say, then, that Atléti will require all the help that they can get, in what will no doubt prove a cauldron of atmosphere in the Basque Country.
One headline member of Diego Simeone’s squad, however, who will be unable to contribute to his side’s endeavours to book a spot in the Copa finale comes in the form of Antoine Griezmann.
Hitman Griezmann picked up an ankle injury against Inter Milan last week, forced onto the sidelines ever since.
Despite initial reports having pointed towards a potentially lengthy spell out of action for the France international, murmurs over recent days had hinted that a miraculous recovery could yet see Griezmann take his place on the bench at San Mamés.
As much, however, will not prove to be the case.
Speaking to the media in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Diego Simeone was asked for the latest on the fitness of his talismanic attacker.
And Atlético’s boss went on to confirm that, despite ‘an enormous effort’, Griezmann has not recovered in time for tomorrow night:
“He is not going to participate in the game. We need him to recover well, he made an enormous effort to be available. The teammates who will come in for him will do so in the best way possible.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
