As the Copa del Rey final approaches on Saturday against Real Sociedad, Atlético Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann, who began his LaLiga journey at Real Sociedad, has shared that he is cherishing his final days with the club.
Griezmann, Atlético’s all-time leading scorer, will be transferring to Orlando City at the season’s end.
“I’m taking it all in and enjoying myself,” Griezmann stated. “I’m excited, eager, and happy. I’m not dwelling on whether this is my last final with Atleti; I’m just focused on the fact that it’s a crucial match, a final that very few players get the chance to experience.”
Leading Atlético in this Copa del Rey campaign with five goals, Griezmann progressed through the Real Sociedad youth academy before joining Atlético in 2014.
“I’m trying not to think too much about facing Real Sociedad because it makes me very emotional, and I want to remain focused for the match,” Griezmann explained. “However, I owe them a great deal. They opened doors for me that were closed in France.”
Atlético enters the final with confidence after eliminating Barcelona on Tuesday to secure a spot in the Champions League semifinals. Coach Diego Simeone remarked that his team has regained both mental and physical strength, turning their attention to claiming their first trophy in five years.
“Winning the Champions League placed us in a fantastic position, which can boost morale, but now we must return to reality,” Simeone noted. “Reality is what matters. We’re grounded now, and we understand the challenges we will face.”
Real Sociedad hopes to pull off an upset to claim the trophy under their coach, Pellegrino Matarazzo, who has significantly improved the team’s performance since taking over mid-season.
“Who would have imagined that after our first conversation, we’d be playing in a final just months later?” Matarazzo said.
“We don’t set limits. Every day is an opportunity for growth and improvement. That has been our approach from the very start.”