Olivier Giroud was crucial for AC Milan at the weekend as he was forced to put on the goalkeeping gloves in the final minutes. However, Billy Costacurta believes he still needs to improve in attack.
Giroud has found the back of the net four times this season, assisting an additional three goals, and yet his heroics against Genoa had nothing to do with the attack. Moving forward, however, that’s where he will have to make a difference.
As highlighted by Billy Costacurta on Sky Italia, as cited by MilanNews, the Frenchman has scored just one goal from open play this season (vs. Bologna). The Milan legend believes the striker must improve in that sense.
“Giroud has scored one goal in open play this season in over 700 minutes played: is he really so important? He has been very important in recent years, but I think he is giving himself too much importance now,” he stated.
It’s no secret that the Rossoneri are looking to reinforce their attack with a younger striker for next season. Giroud is expected to remain, though, not just because of his experience but also because he’s still capable of having an impact.
We had in team Origi, Rebic who failed totally and Ibrahimovic who was too old. In this season I bet Jovic will not be important and Okafor can be used on high value. So Giroud is still very important. For next season as well if his body allow him.
I respect costacurta and always has but come on he has played 7 serie a games and scored 4 goals and assisted 3 and besides of that he also created the chance for loftus where he was fouled in the box and we got a penalty kick. Even if 3 was penalty goals by giroud there was also a time when ibra was still active and kept missing one penalty kick after the other and goals is goals regardless of how we want to paint the picture.
Obviously he will be slowing down due to his age but the man is an asset for us and even still for the french international team who is one of the teams around with most options of any teams upfront.
3 of those were penalties and he hasn’t scored from open play since Matchday 1. He is clearly not good enough anymore.
Funny how your screen name is so inaccurate.
i also said that but he has also made 3 assists and in my book assists is as good as goals as the end product is the same. He also pretty much got us a penalty as i stated + 1 goal from open play so thats 4 goals created by him in 7 matches even if he also scored 3 penalty kicks where 1 was created by himself.
Yes Giroud is still very important…I am a huge fan .
Of course he needs to start to score more goals ,but I am certain he will do this very shortly…
I still believe he can score 20 goals for us in all competitions,,,but he will also definitely be involved for assists to provide goals …I think the team ,like all teams do get fatigued,,,with so many games to play .
So we will need the complete squad ..
I have great faith and belief in pioli and our team .
I have said it before ,but will say it again ..We should win the scuddeto again this season .
Giroud has a huge part to play in that..
Giroud is old. In terms of pure skill he’s no more than an average striker in Serie A.
But, he’s a big target, an aerial threat, he’s physical, and he knows how to find the soft spots in the defense. He must always be accounted for. He is unique in these regards on our squad, which makes him very important. Above all, he is clearly a spiritual leader and highly regarded by the rest of the lads and coaches.
It would be great to bring in a younger, consistent 20+ striker and I’m sure we will the next window or over the summer. But the reality is you can do a lot worse than Giroud. He’s far from the biggest problem the squad has at the moment.
How is Giroud giving himself too much importance? A nonsensical statement.
I think it’s something lost in translation… I hope, at least.
Guys Giroud still have something to offer but looking at the pace with we are playing now we will need an energetic/ athletic striker with a good goal scoring ability and can also drop to build up play with Leao Pulisic. The front has to be mobile alternating here n there to confuse defenders and our Giroud coz of age can’t do that now
With respect, shut up Billy
O Giroud is still very important ,him not scoring is due to poor assist and players around him ,milan play clumsy football and really do not lay passes to target man ,that will be difficult for any striker to really score goals
The problem isn’t Giroud, its the other forwards and the attacking midfielders. They have enough talent but things aren’t clicking right now. Giroud will score his fair share when the attack starts to work as a team, which is did at the very beginning of the season.
My fear is Pioli is feeling pressure to give minutes to other players. This can cause a lot of issues and is why CDK was such a burden on the team last year. Pioli needs to let his A team be the A team and become familiar playing with eachother.
Giroud is done, the earlier the management of Milan realises this , the better it is for Milan
You still have to bang in the pen….Check out how many Ibra and Kessie have missed in the last two seasons…
All due respect to Ibra. F%&# Kessie.
So the argument of “it’s a pen”….does not exactly stand up
in court.
I don’t agree with Billy on this one. O think everyone else sees things differently from him on this