Griezmann must adapt to Barca's style: Valverde
Antoine Griezmann must learn to play to Barcelona's strengths if his Camp Nou career is to take off, head coach Ernesto Valverde has said.
The France international joined Barca from Atletico Madrid for in July but has failed to find his best form at the LaLiga champion.
He has been used predominantly in a wide role and has scored four goals in 14 matches in all competitions, firing blanks in his past four outings.
Having spent five seasons playing a different type of football under Diego Simeone at Atletico, Griezmann has been told by Valverde to adapt to his style of play.
"A lot is said about his situation, but I think it's a lot simpler than it seems," Valverde said ahead of Barcelona's league meeting with Celta Vigo. "He is used to a different type of football.
"I played against Simeone teams lots — his players drop back quickly. As soon as they lose the ball, they run back.
"Players like Koke and Saul [Niguez], [Diego] Costa and [Alvaro] Morata. That's the way Atletico plays, a side that likes to get back and fill space. At Barcelona, we play a short passing game.
"It's a case of looking for players and seeing space. Antoine is generous in that way — in fact we ask that of him, to lose his marker and create space.
"When you go forward you must come back but I think he needs to mature into the way we play. Likewise, our players need to get used to the things Antoine does.
"It's not been easy in his first year, but once players start to gel it rolls a lot more smoothly."
Griezmann has played a full part in Barcelona's past two matches, the LaLiga champion following up a 3-1 league loss to Levante with a goalless home draw against Slavia Prague in the UEFA Champions League.
The 28-year-old was not alone in being criticised for his display against Slavia, with Ousmane Dembele also failing to impress prior to being replaced by teenage forward Ansu Fati.
"[Wednesday's] game was difficult. Ousmane could have done more in the first half but did better after half-time. I still see Ansu as a better option off the bench given his age," Valverde added.
Jordi Alba suffered a relapse of a previous hamstring injury against Slavia, potentially opening the door for Junior Firpo to start for the first time since September when Celta travels to Camp Nou on Sunday (AEDT_.
"This could be a game for him to have a chance," Valverde said. "We are happy with him. He is a good player and will do good things for us."
