At the end of the month, Olivier Giroud will no longer be an AC Milan player, and his destination has been known for several months. Today, he has sat and spoken about some extra reasons why he chose to depart the club, whilst offering some information on what his future holds.
Whilst Milan offered Giroud an extension on his deal to stay at the club, the terms of the renewal meant that the Frenchman’s game time would shorten massively, which was a less-than-ideal situation in the striker’s eyes.
Understandably, after scoring 15 goals and assisting eight times in Serie A this season, he will have felt capable of another season at the top level, but a move to America was preferred due to the Rossoneri’s plans to invest in his heir.
Giroud spoke to Le Figaro about the move to Los Angeles, and his future once his playing career is finished, and his words have been relayed by Milan News.
Why he decided to go and live and work on the pitch in Los Angeles…
“It’s a bit of everything. Being away from my family during international weeks, travelling a lot, playing more matches weighs on me. I made a more family-friendly career choice by signing with Los Angeles FC. Everyone knows that when you leave for the United States, it is more difficult to return to the national team. In any case, I feel an undeniable physical and mental fatigue.”
On the national team goal record, which is already being challenged by Mbappe…
“I exceeded all my expectations. I could never have dreamed of such a destiny. I still need a few more games for Kylian to surpass me and he is counting on me to score this summer. They tell me I will reach 60 goals, but I don’t set myself that target, I really want to help the team in Germany.”
In the future…
“I don’t think I will be a coach. When you are the coach, there is even less time for you, it is even worse than when you are a player. My wife will kick me out if I leave again, I would like to stay in football because it’s what I know best. If it’s to work at a club, I want to learn the job of sporting director. It will be another adventure.
He felt mental and physical fatigue because France keep using him when they have many striker that should be ready to replace him… Thuram, Kolo Muani, Mbappe, Ben Yedder…
The problem escalate because we don’t buy top striker last summer, and forcing Pioli keep using him when he really should try to control his minutes. That resulted in drop of performance for Giroud.
But thats all in the past, theres many things more important in life. good luck with your next career and family, Giroud!
I think you should have said Pioli/Milan kept using him cuz of no trust in the backup players
Mbappé and Thuram are not strikers. Ben Yedder has his shot and didn’t succeed. Kolo Muani is terrible and French people don’t understand why he’s still around.
If he didn’t want to play for France, he could retire. Varane did it. Lloris did it. A lot of guys did it before. He’s tired because he’s 37 years old and has been a professional football player for most of his life.
Ofc you’d be fatigued. Pioli worked him 2 the bone week in week out
“I feel an undeniable physical and mental fatigue.” Well he was our main striker all season, playing practically every game… (Which is why management didn’t prioritize getting a striker last season, and instead plugged multiple other holes in the team. How well they did that probably depends on your view of RedBird, but all this talk about us going to leave getting a striker until the last minute like last season doesn’t add up to me.
The responsibilities was too much on him
Our main striker for several seasons, scoring well into double digits. I don’t doubt he gave us his all. I wish him the best.
Giroud did well for Milan despite being 37 years old. 👏🏽 good luck for his future in MLS