- Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann hasn’t scored in last eight matches
- He was jeered by some supporters during Saturday’s derby draw with Real
- Manager Diego Simeone has backed the Frenchman ahead of Roma game
- Atletico must win Wednesday’s game to progress in Champions League
Diego Simeone has asked the Atletico Madrid fans to keep faith with Antoine Griezmann as the French forward tries to end his eight-match goal drought.
Griezmann was jeered by fans at the weekend after failing to find the net in the derby stalemate with Real Madrid and hasn’t scored since September 27.
In all this season, he has managed just three goals in all competitions – two in La Liga and one in the Champions League – and has struggled for form.
Antoine Griezmann has endured a difficult recent spell for Atletico Madrid and has failed to score in his last eight matches for Diego Simeone’s side
The French striker shows his frustration during Saturday’s goalless draw with Real Madrid
Atletico manager Diego Simeone has urged the fans to back Griezmann after they jeered him during the goalless draw with Real at the weekend
But, speaking ahead of their home Champions League fixture with Roma on Wednesday night, Simeone backed the mis-firing striker.
He said: ‘Antoine is worried and it’s normal because he wants to show us his best version and he needs to score for that.
‘It’s also true that he did a great job in a lot of matches even if he didn’t score but he had a great relationship with goals in the last years so now that he’s not scoring he’s suffering and so does the team.
‘Also, the fans get angry because he has been our top scorer in the last seasons. The kid has everything, he’s an awesome player, from our side we know that we just need to support him.
Atletico face a must-win match against Roma on Wednesday night in the Champions League
Griezmann is beaten to the ball by Real Madrid goalkeeper Francisco Casilla
‘Giving him the opportunity to play and trusting him because he’s a player with goals in the blood so he will naturally find his way back to it.’
Atletico, who laboured to back-to-back draw with Azerbaijani siode Qarabag in recent European outings, are four points behind second-placed Chelsea in Group C and five behind leaders Roma.
They need to beat the Italian side on Wednesday to stand any chance of reaching the last-16 of a competition they reached the final of in 2014 and 2016.
Simeone added: ‘Like I said Antoine is fine. He needs to start scoring again in front of goal. He is a young boy with a bright future, a very bright present too, his colleagues really love him.
Griezmann pictured in training ahead of Atletico’s Champions League match with Roma
‘The people of Atletico Madrid have demonstrated their affection and its critical when the situation gets very negative. People have shown great appreciation for him.
‘How long has he been here? Four years! He has given so much its normal for that to happen, they demand so much of him, he is an idol of the club.’