Antoine Griezmann says he's happy at Atlético Madrid

Great year

Antoine Griezmann sat down with AS to review 2016 - "an unforgettable year" he says, and not just on a sporting level.

"It was an important year for me for a number of reasons. Firstly, for the birth of my daughter and after that, I think we managed to reach the objectives the club set. Personally it's been my best year as a professional, hopefully I can continue like this and perhaps even improve.

You took part in two finals - the Champions League with Atlético and the Euro 2016 final with France. But ended on the losing side both times...

I'm a little sad about that, a bit angry, but I came to Atlético precisely to play those kinds of games and I am keen to reach more finals in the future. I will give everything I've got to do it. My objective is to win trophies for me, for my club and my team mates, and for France... It's something I need to do and I will do everything I can to make it happen.

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Team comes first

Spanish football fans - not just Atlético fans, see you as one of the best players in the game and up their with the great players. Would you agree with that?

I don't think about that. It's true that I am getting more and more requests to do interviews and more meetings with sponsors, more photographs...  all I try to do is play well and give my best for my club and my national team. The only thing that I worry about is the team, nothing else.

What are your best and worst memories of 2016?

My best one was the Champions League semi-final in Germany against Bayern. We really suffered that night but you could see how united and together we were as a team - we were so strong, every one of us played out of our skin to help each other. And of course the two finals which we lost were the worst memories of the year.

And I'm sure you'd rather forget the penalty miss in the final in Milan...

I couldn't get that penalty out of my head for about a week afterwards. I couldn't forget about it because it was at a key point in the game. If I had scored that penalty, I think we would have gone on to win the game. We were playing well and we were all over Real Madrid, but it wasn't to be. It wasn't our day. We have to keep working hard and that's that.

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Happy and proud

Apart from those tough moments, are you happy at Atlético?

I'm very happy at Atlético, I am very proud to play for such great supporters, the great team mates I have, and a great coach. I want to repay all of the people at Atlético for the faith and confidence they have always given me. I want to score goals and make the fans enjoys themselves.

While you are happy at Atlético, there's been a lot of talk about interest from various of Europe top clubs. How long do you see yourself as a Rojiblanco?

I don't like that question -  I don't find those type of questions about my future very respectful, because players like Cristiano, Messi and Bale don't get asked where they see themselves playing next season or where they would like to play. I'm prefectly happy at Atlético and enjoying myself where I am. Please don't ask me about my future anymore.

What's your New Year wish for 2017?

On a sporting level, winning a trophy and on a personal level, that my daughter and my family are well and healthy.