GdS: Pioli’s over-reliance on Giroud problematic – the striker needs support

By Oliver Fisher -

AC Milan’s heavy reliance on Olivier Giroud has been laid bare through the amount of playing time each centre-forward has had this season.

La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s condition is improving and he should be able to help more and more in the coming weeks but the lack of contribution from Divock Origi and Ante Rebic must really worry Stefano Pioli.

The Belgian and the Croatian have not been in good form this season and have battled physical problems, which means five days after the huge physical and mental effort in London against Spurs there can be no rotation as Milan need another win tonight.

The Frenchman will turn 37 this year and he has accrued 1522 minutes of playing time this season, while Origi is on 646 (532 as centre-forward, the rest playing wide), Rebic is on 591 (260 as a centre-forward) and Ibrahimovic is on 40.

Giroud has played almost three times as many minutes as his team-mates and the goals read Giroud 7, Rebic 3 and Origi 2 in the league. In the Champions League, Giroud has four with the others zero.

Tags AC Milan Olivier Giroud
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