AC Milan’s attacking department is struggling for consistent production and there is a dependency on Olivier Giroud, according to a report.
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La Gazzetta dello Sport write that the 3-0 defeat against Inter in the Supercoppa Italiana and the two draws in the league, combined with the defeat against Torino in the Coppa Italia, highlighted a significant problem: if Oliver Giroud, is not at the races, Milan struggle.
The 36-year-old returned from the World Cup final played and lost with France hoping to continue his status as the Rossoneri’s offensive beacon, with nine goals and six assists in 24 games so far this season, but his last goal dates back to November 5 against Spezia.
Since then he has gone six games without scoring, and while it is understandable that he came back mentally and physically tired from the tournament in Qatar – where he scored four goals in seven games – more was expected.
There could be a bit of mental fog, especially after three months playing at a high level both with Milan and the national team. However, when he doesn’t score and Rafael Leao isn’t at his best, Stefano Pioli has a few more problems.
Several goals by Giroud have proven to be decisive: two goals and as many assists in the 4-0 win against Salzburg, then the goals against Inter (3-2), Sampdoria (2-1) and Spezia (2-1), to which is added the assist against Fiorentina (2-1).
Milan lack goals from other sources. Divock Origi has only scored once, Charles De Ketelaere is still without a goal, Zlatan Ibrahimovic won’t return before mid-February (and in any case a 41-year-old who has been out for a year cannot be relied upon), while Marko Lazetic is an 18-year-old with a handful of professional minutes. Brahim Diaz has four goals and two assists in 22 games, but he’s not a striker or a false nine, and nothing is coming from the right wing.
As a comparison you just have to look at Giovanni Simeone, spare striker for leaders Napoli who has seven goals in 15 games in all competitions, including a decisive one against Milan. An excellent deputy to Osimhen, just what Pioli is missing.
