Giroud insists Milan can ‘dream of everything’ and looks ahead to semi-final vs. Inter

By Oliver Fisher -

Olivier Giroud has admitted that he did not expect to have so much success when he signed for AC Milan from Chelsea in the summer of 2021.

Giroud had a great 24 hours earlier this week when he scored Milan’s biggest goal of the season, making the most of an extraordinary solo run by Rafael Leao to get 13th of the season and number 27 in the Rossoneri shirt, guiding the Rossoneri through the quarter-final stage.

Then, it was officially announced by AC Milan on their website that the French striker has put pen to paper on a new contract which will keep him with the Rossoneri until 2024 and will see him earn €3.5m net for the next season.

Giroud gave an interview to L’Equipe about the upcoming Champions League derby and his time at Milan so far, with his comments relayed by our colleagues at SempreMilan.it.

On the Champions League derby: “It will be a derbissimo, Milan will be on fire. An incredible match, with an Italian team in the final in any case. The city will experience something incredible and so will we.

“This is a team with a collective spirit and so we can dream of everything. The only time I made it to the semi-finals I won with Chelsea, and even then we were outsiders. We weren’t the favourites this time either, but we eliminated Napoli.”

On the AC Milan adventure: “I didn’t expect to experience all this when I signed for Milan. I knew it would be an exciting challenge, but I didn’t expect to win the Scudetto and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. I could never have dreamed as much.

“Milan are finding their place again, thanks to a good team. There is total intensity and great solidity, which is our strength. It starts from me up to Mike. Maignan brings us serenity and confidence, it is very important.

“We are a solid team that has a future, but we need to improve on a regular basis. The team is young, even if I kill the average age a bit.”

On Napoli: “After the penalty I was a bit shaken. But I stayed focused, I knew I would have other chances. Meret also stopped me with the second one, but I didn’t miss the third, converting after Leao’s run.

“When there’s space, Leao is devastating, and I knew where to put myself to receive the ball. I couldn’t go wrong. It must be said that I played even though my leg hurt. But like the rest of the team, I sacrificed myself.”

Tags AC Milan Olivier Giroud
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