Morata: "Griezmann is important to Atleti as a super-sub"

said that

Atletico Madrid

forward

is "crucial" to the team's success before the team went to

Bayer Leverkuse

n for a Champions League game. Last week, Atleti had a great start to their Champions League season against Porto. Griezmann's dramatic header in the 101st minute gave Atleti a 2-1 win.

That game was only the second time in the history of the Champions League that three goals were scored after the 90th minute. Griezmann's winner came 100 minutes and 21 seconds after the 90th minute (both stats excluding extra-time).

Griezmann's season has been overshadowed by rumors that Atleti are limiting his playing time, so they don't have to buy him at the end of the two-year loan deal they made with Barcelona. However, when he has played, he has done well. Even though Griezmann has only played 165 minutes in all competitions this season, he has scored three goals, which is tied for the most on the team with Morata.

The 2018 World Cup winner, on the other hand, has scored a goal every 55 minutes on average across all competitions. This is the best rate of any player on Atleti's team. Morata praised his strike partner at a news conference on Monday, where he said: "Antoine is a player, so it's clear what he does.

"He's important not just when he's on the field, but for the whole group. He is always smiling and happy, and he brings a lot of good things to the group and to us, whether he is playing or not. He is one of the best football players we have. He brings us a lot of things, and when he's on the field, he scores goals and does it well."

Morata has had a bit of a comeback this season after a disappointing two-year loan at Juventus, where he scored an average of one goal every 148 minutes. The Spain player thinks that Diego Simeone's trust in him has been a big part of his good form "We have just started. I feel great and think the team is doing well, too.

"I've always noticed the coach's confidence, and I've already told him it was a pleasure to work with him. Now we're back together with the same goals. I'm really glad to be here. I only hope for the future, and I'll work as hard as possible to be as successful as possible."

Atletico has played Leverkusen in the

Champions Leagu

e three times before, in the last 16 in 2014-15 and 2016-17, and in the group stage of 2019-20. This will be the fourth time the two teams meet in the Champions League.

But Simeone's team has only won one of the four games they've played away from home against Leverkusen (they've tied one and lost two), and the Argentine knows they have a tough task ahead of them, even though the Germans lost 1-0 at Club Brugge last week.

Simeone said, "I have always had a lot of respect for German teams. They have a strong head, are tough, don't give up until the end, and always play well, just like Leverkusen did every time we played them. I watched the last games, and I liked the team from Brugge. [Leverkusen] lost a game they probably should have won more than they did. They are a well-organized team that will give us the ball and tries to attack quickly on the counter."

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