Olivier Giroud has been working overtime while the centre-forward department was without alternatives, but it now seems time for him to rest.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Giroud’s obvious fatigue is very understandable given he is 36 years old and has made 14 consecutive starts from club and country in the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ante Rebic and Divock Origi.
Origi has so far played eight times for Milan with a total of 158 minutes across five appearances in Serie A and three in the Champions League. In Verona he played for the entire second half and he could well play on Saturday against Monza from the start.
Giroud’s workload must be managed especially if Didier Deschamps decides to summon him for the World Cup in Qatar, so there will also be some space coming up for Rebic too.
So far the Croatian has scored three goals and has added a couple of assists. He netted a brace against Udinese in the first game of the season and then scored in Empoli too, and entered in the 45th minute together with Origi on Sunday setting up Tonali to score the winner late on.
That is why it also seems a concrete possibility that Rebic could actually get a start against Monza, given he convinced more than Origi in Verona and has done so far this season, with five goal contributions in 268 minutes.
Origi played his ‘best’ game with Milan on the last match. Hopefully he can get his name on score sheet soon to get his confidence running.
Yet his best isn’t nowhere near what Milan need – or Rebic can offer. So… Rebic in starting eleven if we want goals. And why wouldn’t we? Rebic has or at least had the best goal ratio per played minutes in Serie A. That says something too.
I fear Rebic from the start might aggravate his injury
And I fear that starting with Origi would be like playing with only 10 men. 🙂
Certainly we could see some good glimpses of him, holding out the ball well, speed (something different than Oli), and even he won some aerials on defense corner (not a trait that striker needs, but it’s good to have).
Rebic, he’s always been our joker who can cover many positions. Pioli doesn’t see him as a definite striker. As you can see from the post match interview when he said ‘We have two strikers that we can alternate’. That’s the definite hierarchy.
Pioli must utilize Rebic more — and he knows it.
Hopefully Origi will find his form though; he has great talent too.
Giroud most definitely needs to play fewer minutes … his entire career at Arsenal and Chelsea he was a “super sub” most of the time, even when he was young. His body can’t handle playing 90 minutes every match like he has been with Milan. What he has done for us has been beyond admirable. We have asked of him FAR MORE than we ever expected to be asking and besides scoring huge goals for us, he never stops running on the field and pressing and doing his best. Of course last few games, he has looked tired — people can not blame him for that. Milan fans who criticize Giroud are not proper fans.
Giroud is a great man ,and I admire so much for what he has accomplished whilst playing for ac Milan .
But let me say this ,he will be back to his best very soon ,and yes perhaps a rest is needed .
He is still a very gifted and talented player ,and indeed if we want to win the scuddeto again this season ,his service will be needed ,write this man off at your own peril ..i said that when we signed him ,that we would win the scuddeto,which we did ,,,just remember the very important goals he has scored ,and indeed the brace he scored last season against inter ,indeed that was the turning point for the remainder of that season and us becoming champions..I am proud to be a fan of AC Milan and indeed Olivier Giroud..technically he is class and inside the 18yard area second to none ,and he has great physical strength ,,and great centre forward to have ,,he will be back …it will not be long before he start scoring gaols again …