Tuesday was a difficult night for Antoine Griezmann. Much of the narrative before the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid would have had you believing that the diminutive Frenchman was set to steal the show.

However, it wasn't meant to be as he struggled to impose himself on the game, as did most of his teammates, and some sections of Manchester United's support have now been left unconvinced that he is the right man to make their top transfer target this summer.

Griezmann is enjoying another strong season in the Spanish top flight and has already hit a total of 25 goals in 49 games across all competitions so far this season.

But despite those impressive numbers and the praise he roundly receives from those in the game, former England international defender Rio Ferdinand is still uncomfortable with him being labeled as a great player.

And while working as a pundit for BT Sports' coverage of Atletico's trip to the Bernabeu on Tuesday night, both he and former international colleague Steve McManaman agreed that Griezmann couldn't be considered as such until he started bringing the silverware home.

"He's learning every year, and I think this fella is improving as the years go on, but he needs a bit of luck, he needs this trophy to define him as a great player," said former Real Madrid man McManaman as per the Mirror.

"He wants that silverware, he wants that Champions league trophy to cement himself as one of the greatest players."

The 26-year-old made it to the final of Euro 2016 with France last summer, but couldn't take it the extra step to lift the trophy, and Ferdinand backed up his colleague by adding: "He was the best player at the Euros, top goalscorer, been to the final, but he needs to get a trophy to really make yourself feel complete.

"The thing that separates him is trophies, and knowing that you've been there and done it before.

"He will have question marks about him 'am I letting my team down? We've not won a trophy, is it me missing penalties etc.?'"

This season Griezmann has emerged as a target for Manchester United, with the Red Devils being tipped to activate the €100million release clause written into his current contract.

But while one bad performance isn't likely to put them off, Griezmann himself may want to try and figure out where he has a better chance of success before committing his future.