Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 6y

Marseille players wary of Antoine Griezmann threat in Europa League final

Marseille's Dimitri Payet and Steve Mandanda singled out France teammate Antoine Griezmann as Atletico Madrid's biggest threat to their side in Wednesday's Europa League final.

Marseille are aiming to become the first French team to win the Europa League and add European club football's second-biggest prize to the Champions League trophy they claimed a quarter of a century ago with a famous upset win over a hotly fancied AC Milan.

Victory for the French club on home soil in Lyon against the 2010 and 2012 champions would be another surprise result, and if the underdogs are to come through successfully, they know they need to keep Griezmann, who was born near Lyon, in check.

"Grizou, he's the plus factor in this Atletico team. He can turn the game at any moment of the match. We mustn't take our eyes off him for a second," said Payet, who could feature alongside Atletico's star French forward at this summer's World Cup.

Mandanda warned Griezmann isn't Atletico's only threat, however.

"Griezmann is one of the best attackers in the world and he's capable of anything. But there's also Diego Costa, Kevin [Gameiro] and Fernando Torres, who could come on at some point. It is going to be difficult."

With Payet set to shake off a thigh injury that kept him out of last Friday's league draw with Guingamp, Marseille's task will be somewhat easier than it would have been had their captain, who revealed he plays the role of dressing room joker to help him relax before big games, been sidelined.

Coach Rudi Garcia said he also expects right-back Bouna Sarr, who dislocated a shoulder in the 3-3 draw with Guingamp, striker Kostas Mitroglou (hamstring) and centre-back Rolando (calf) to also be ready to face Atletico in what will be his team's 19th match in the competition.

"The fact we played a day earlier against Guingamp is an advantage. Tomorrow, everyone will be in shape, but I get the impression that the more games this team plays, the more it is in shape," Garcia explained. "We're going to try to remove the last doubts this afternoon, but we should be able to count on everyone."

The former Lille and Roma boss admitted his side do not start as favourites against an Atleti that has played in two Champions League finals and one semifinal in the last four years.

"They are very solid and have the best defensive record in Spain but they are dangerous in attack too," he said. "If we have similarities to them then it's because we're both full of character.

"We are full of respect for Atletico, a great Spanish club. They have more experience than us, but it's good for us that it'll be decided over one match, that means anything is possible."

He added: "This year, we're celebrating the 25th anniversary of the only French club to win the Champions League. We have had a love affair with the European cups since the 1990s. We all want to follow in the footsteps of our predecessors. It'll be a very difficult mission."

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