AC Milan's experienced striker, Olivier Giroud, spoke to the microphones of Football Ramble about his career. Here are his words:
On the scorpio kick which he scored with Arsenal:
"I remember that match with Crystal Palace, it was the first day of the year. Scoring that scorpio goal was an unforgettable moment for me and I will never forget it. It reminds me of beautiful moments lived at Emirates Stadium. To be totally honest, I was surprised. I had already tried to hit her like this in training and in other situations and I didn't think I could replicate this gesture. I was surprised."
On his choices in the career:
"Through the biographer Rouche, I was able to tell my story. Players usually write a book when their career ends and I asked my family and entourage if it was the right time to talk about my childhood and my life. I had a lot of fun even though it took me a long time and I'm happy with the final result. When you are still a footballer and you play for a club and for the national team, it is difficult to manage every single word that comes out of your mouth because you are judged for everything. When you retire, however, you can speak very frankly about your career and that is what I have tried to do in this book. I tried to find the right balance."
On the controversy with Mbappé:
"It's easy for me to talk about the episode with Mbappè. He has already spoken at the conference and has already clarified the things that have happened. The press amplified the things that happened. Two days after that little clash we had, we cleared up and went ahead thinking about the next match."
On his fear of the Alf cartoon:
"I don't like Alf. I'm afraid and I don't know why. I didn't like the way he talked, the fact that he ate cats. I try to concentrate on the pitch but I would be scared if I saw him in the stadium."
Olivier Giroud On his brother Romain:
"It's hard when a child goes away from his family, when he lefts home at 14. In the youth national teams, he did very well with Henry and Trezeguet, at that time he was one of the best defenders. He didn't have the chance to go very far in professional football but for me he is a hero and an example. When I was 14 and I had the possibility to leave home, my parents decided not to let me go because I was not mature enough. It was the right decision, I needed to grow. I feel grateful, thanks to my faith that God had a plan for me and that. He had drawn such a beautiful path for me. Everyone is responsible for their choices and what they get but God always supports you and allows you to make the right decisions."
On his history and winning the World Cup:
"I think the story of my life tells that I have always fought to reach certain places. Since I was a child I have always pushed to grow, I love competition and I don't like the comfort zone. I have always believed in myself and have always tried to overcome critical moments and prove that people were wrong. Raising the world cup was the biggest milestone I reached in my career, I get goosebumps talking about it. I remember when my friends told me that as a child, I said I would become a world champion. It's a child's dream that has come true."
On his regrets:
"My biggest regrets so far are the defeat at the 2016 European Championships and not having won a Premier League with Arsenal or Chelsea. But now we need to think about the next challenges and I have great hopes of winning another title with my current club," declared Giroud.
On the idea of having a World Cup competition every 2 years:
"I think a World Cup every 4 years is much better. We play a lot of games, the schedules are very dense and at the end of the season we are very tired. Players have to take care of their health and if we played such an important competition that requires a lot of concentration it would be difficult to do so. I don't know how it is possible to add more games and I think other players think so too."
On Wenger:
"Arséne Wenger is a special person to me. I miss talking to him and I hope to have a chance to meet him again. He did a lot for me at Arsenal and I'm sure he can help international football a lot even if I don't agree with his idea of the World Cup every two years. I respect his ideas but I would like to understand the reason for this notion."
About his life after retirement:
"It's early to talk about it but I think I'll stay in football. I have been in this world for many years and I think I have gained credit which can help with the experience I have collected. I think of figures like the sports director, in the development of the youth sectors or regarding the club's policies. The coach is a role that is not for me. There is too much stress in that role, I have great respect for whoever does it. When I read Wenger's book, I noticed that his biggest regret was that he had left out his family. A role that would be wonderful to play is the coach of the attackers."
source: www.milannews.it
