Milan striker Olivier Giroud recognises he is ‘not a centre-forward with the skills who the youngsters dream about,’ but he’s happy to do the hard work that others might not be prepared to.
The 35-year-old joined the Rossoneri from Chelsea over the summer for €1m plus bonuses and has made a strong start, with two goals in three Serie A appearances.
“The story of my life has been people asking if I think I was a bit underrated. I think it’s also partly because I’m not a centre-forward with the skills who the youngsters dream about,” Giroud told The Mirror newspaper.
“But I think the most important thing is to be very efficient because as a striker you are judged on your statistics, how many goals you score, I’m happy to do the pressing that others don’t do and the s*** that others don’t want to do. But it’s so important to me.
“But as a striker, you will always be judged on the stats and when I look back, I tell myself that I am so thankful to God that I’m on the pitch to enjoy my career, he’s always alongside me to help me to make the right decisions.
“I’ve won so many things in my career that I could never have imagined when I started. When I look back, I am very proud.”
Giroud has scored 46 goals in 110 senior caps for France, while in the Premier League he managed 90 goals in 255 games.
It is in Europe where the striker has really made his mark, finding the net 35 times with 11 assists in 69 UEFA cup competition appearances.
Exclusive Olivier Giroud interview: defying the doubters, the hurt, becoming a Prem great and being on top of the world https://t.co/IZAPQmvLmL
— John Cross (@johncrossmirror) October 14, 2021
Going by his description of himself, he sounds an awful lot like Super Pippo, our last great number 9. Is he the man to bring some glory back to our number 9 shirt?
I must have missed his pressings.
Both fully fit, I’d start him ahead of Ibra, who has to accept he’s not up to a top league anymore (I’m 40 too so that’s frustrating to type).
Hopefully Belotti is on his way and next season Giroud can be a benchmark for him and Pellegri, who can be so great if he wants it.