Olivier Giroud has made his best ever start to a league season at club level and now he dreams of scoring in another derby, after the international break.
As written by La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below), Giroud didn’t even start a season this well in 2011 when he was 25 years old and ended up netting 21 goals in 36 Ligue 1 games with Montpellier.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
The four goals that the Frenchman has scored in Milan’s first three matches mark his best start in his career, and now Giroud has only one goal: continue at the same pace against Inter on 16 September and be decisive in the derby again.
Physical energy permitting, obviously. At almost 37 years old, for Giroud managing himself as best as possible is almost as important as standing out in the heart of the penalty box.
If there is a potentially more difficult enemy to face than Matteo Darmians, Stefan De Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni, it is the international break that interrupted his and Milan’s rhythm.
On 7 and 12 September Giroud and his France will play against Ireland and Germany respectively, so the question is how much will the double commitment with Les Bleus have an impact?
In 2023 Giroud started 28 games out of 35 for Milan and France. Stefano Pioli asked him to work overtime because he had no alternatives even when he should have rested (the problems with his Achilles tendon gave him no respite between April and June).
Didier Deschamps keeps trusting him too, as his record of 54 goals in 124 matches suggests he should, despite the competition from Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram.
It is unlikely that Giroud plays both games for France from the first minute, and Deschamps even suggested in his press conference yesterday that he must manage his work load carefully.
“If Olivier is still here it is only thanks to him. He has the physique that helps him, the lifestyle, the mentality. And the desire to stay on top,” he said.
“A few years ago the limit was 35 years old, today it reaches almost 40, everything has improved, from preparation to medical care. But to be like Giroud you need the mind, the strength of mind. Olivier has it and it’s a great thing.”
Everyone agrees on this, including Pioli. For Giroud to turn against Inter again, however, his legs also need to hold up.
Don’t. Get. Hurt. Grandpa.