Olivier Giroud continues to defy the general rules regarding performance declining with age, and he made another vital contribution during the win over Frosinone last night.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport reports, Giroud at the age of 37 remains one of Milan’s best players and some might argue that the squad is not in very good shape if it continues to need the second youth of a player born in 1986.
However, while he is still performing at this level then Stefano Pioli will continue to lean on the Frenchman because he provides goals and assists, with two more of them coming in last night’s win.
In Frosinone he scored a goal that wasn’t at all simple. He only had one option: the near post, the closest one, because by aiming for the far post he probably wouldn’t have been able to put enough force on the ball.
The problem is that the first post was where the goalkeeper was positioned. Yet Giroud managed to find the most effective trajectory: he headed it hard, as close to the post as he could, and Turati only got it in his hands when the ball was already over the line.
The second contribution came when he set up Matteo Gabbia with a header back across goal, realising that it was the best option rather than going for goal himself.
It was exactly at that moment that Giroud’s 37 years of age came to light: he resisted the temptation – and for a centre-forward there is no more complicated test with oneself – and placed it on Gabbia’s head.
Played well with real fire and purpose, but still you can’t start him every game…
Played well with real fire and purpose, but still you can’t start him every game…
(Please fix the ‘you’re posting comments too quickly” problem)
So… Where are the guys week after week saying “his departure is way overdue”??? 🙂
Embarrassed? LOL