Antoine Griezmann hits new low at Barcelona as Quique Setien admits bringing him on would have 'destabilised' team

French striker, without a La Liga goal since February 15, appeared only as a last-minute substitute in the 2-2 draw with former club Atletico on Tuesday

Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann after missing a chance in the La Liga clash with Getafe at Camp Nou on February 15, 2020. AFP

An Atletico Madrid staff member greets former player Antoine Griezmann at the end of the the 2-2 draw with Barca on June 30, 2020. Griezmann came on as a substitute in the last minute. AFP

Barca's Antoine Griezmann and Joseph Aidoo of Celta Vigo challenge for the ball during the La Liga match at the Estadio de Balaídos on June 27, 2020. Griezmann came on as a sub with nine minutes to go. Getty

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann in action during the La Liga match at home to Athletic Bilbao on June 23, 2020. The Frenchman started the game but was withdrawn after 65 minutes. EPA

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann attempts to finish past Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon. EPA

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann battles for possession with Guido Carrillo of Leganes on June 16, 2020. Griezmann played the full 90 minutes but did not score. Reuters

Barca attacker Antoine Griezmann is challenged by Leganes defender Rodrigo Tarin. AFP

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann is denied by Leganes goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar. AFP

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann in action against Napoli in the Champions League at the San Paolo Stadium on February 25, 2020. Griezmann scored in this last-16 clash, the last time he found the net for Barca. EPA

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann rounds Getafe goalkeeper David Soria to score his side's opening goal at the Camp Nou on February 15, 2020. He has yet to score since in La Liga. AP

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann celebrates after scoring against Getafe. Getty

Barca's Antoine Griezmann celebrates after scoring in the King's Cup round of 32 soccer match against UD Ibiza on January 22, 2020. EPA

Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann must have been relishing Tuesday's match with former club Atletico Madrid, but even with his side drawing 2-2 and needing a winner to rescue their ailing La Liga title bid, he was not brought on until the last minute.

A third draw in six matches further doomed Barca's bid to win a third successive title and means arch rivals Real Madrid can go four points clear at the top of the table with five games left if they beat Getafe on Thursday.

But after the match, the focus on Griezmann 's fall from grace since his €120 million (Dh486m) move from Atletico last year was even greater than the team's title bid.

The World Cup winning forward has not started in three of Barca's six games since returning to action, missing the crucial trips to Sevilla and Celta Vigo which also ended in draws.

But perhaps worst of all for him was manager Quique Setien's declaration that bringing on Griezmann earlier would not have helped his side.

"It's true that bringing him on for such little time is tough for a player of his level but the circumstances obliged me to do that. The other option was not to bring him on at all," said Setien.

"The players on the pitch were playing well and it wasn't easy to find a place for him without destabilising the team. I don't normally make late changes but I thought a player like him could win the game with one play."

Griezmann, who is Barca's second most expensive player of all time, has only scored one league goal since Setien became manager in January. He netted seven times under previous manager Ernesto Valverde.

"Tomorrow I'll speak with him. I won't apologise to him but I understand he might feel bad and I also feel bad for him because he's a great player and a great person," added Setien.

Griezmann's scant influence at Barca contrasts with the talismanic influence he had at Atletico, where he was leading scorer in each of his five seasons under Diego Simeone.

The Atletico manager's reaction to his former star man's cameo role said it all. "I have no words," he said.

Griezmann still appears to have the support of his teammates, though, with Barca defender Clement Lenglet this week saying the 29-year-old can still rediscover his best form.

"Antoine is well integrated in the dressing room, there really is no problem. On the pitch, he himself knows he can do better," Lenglet said to Le Parisien. "But we must not forget his statistics. He has still scored 14 goals and created several assists.

"For a first season, it's not bad. But, for Antoine, he is playing in a different style to what he was better used to at Atletico, and he is a player with whom we are very demanding.

"But I see him working hard in training, it can only get better. It's always the same when a Barca striker doesn't score for two games, that's he's in trouble. When he scores two goals, it looks like Super-Antoine is back."

Setien, meanwhile, is under pressure himself, with reports growing of a growing schism between Barca's players and the coaching staff.

But, despite Real on the brink of taking firm control of the title race, the former Real Betis coach insists he does not feel the axe is looming.

"I don't feel at all under threat," he said. "It's a shame. We're having more and more difficulties. Leaving these points behind means we're moving further away from the title. But we have to keep working."