The series of interviews of AC Milan players continue. After Theo Hernandez' words to The Athletic, Sandro Tonali's to Repubblica, it is now Olivier Giroud's turn who spoke to La Stampa and Corriere dello Sport.
Here are the French player's words to CorSport:
"Defeat vs Spezia? After the defeat on Monday, we started looking forward again. With Juve It will be a great match and we need a better performance than the one against Spezia. We know that. We need an exceptional performance to beat them."
On Juventus and Scudetto race:
"I admit that I expected to see them (Juve) in the Scudetto race. Beyond the standings and the departure in the last days of Cristiano Ronaldo, their best player, they still have a staff made up of important elements, for example Dybala, their offensive playmaker, a key element and a champion. Maybe they paid for the many injuries, but in terms of quality and quantity they are among the best in Italy..."
On the team's confidence:
"We must not lose confidence in ourselves or be assailed by fears and doubts because we lost a match at home that we had to win. Against Juventus I want to see Milan again, generous, determined and ready to redeem themselves immediately. Okay, we fell badly. but we are ready to fight, as they say, with the knife between our teeth."
Giroud, were you close to Juventus?
"It happened in the summer of 2020, with Pirlo as coach, but I preferred to stay at Chelsea where I wanted to play my chances. Given how the season ended (Champions League victory), I made the right choice."
On Marco Serra:
"He immediately realised he had made a mistake. He apologised and you could see in his face that he was sorry. Unfortunately it was a game situation that happened and we can't do anything about it. We had to win but instead we lost. We could have closed the match by scoring 2-0 and we didn't succeed. Now we need to use this frustration that we have left inside to do well against Juventus."
On Ibrahimovic:
"Zlatan is the engine of the team. He is demanding especially with the young players, but also with the others. He always wants to do well because he is at the top physically and demands the same from others. He is important both on the pitch and in the locker room. We all aim to reach the top."
Giroud on the Serie A trophy dream...
"In the locker room we are united and determined, but we also feel a little ... back to the wall because we need to play a great match with Juve in order not to lose ground compared to Inter. After losing on Monday at home, We no longer have wild cards, but I'm not worried because I know the value of our group. I am convinced that we will remain close to Inter and in the running for the Scudetto until the end."
The French star of AC Milan granted another interview this time to La Stampa...
"Reaction after the Spezia loss? We need to turn the page and play an exceptional game, making our teaching of Mandela our own:“ Don't judge me by my successes, but by how many times I've fallen and got up ”. We have to fight..."
On what he expects against Juventus:
"They are strong in front: Dybala is the key player. But it's not just him. Morata has been my friend since Chelsea. They are an experienced team. It doesn't mean anything that they didn't get off to a good start at the start of the season after losing Ronaldo. We don't have to be afraid of something just because we lost with Spezia. I am always optimistic."
Giroud, you have Italian origins... What did you discover about Italy while living here?
"I discovered that I really like Tiramisu. My grandmother Antonia made it very good. And lasagna, which my mom cooks well. But not only gastronomy. It is wonderful to go to Milanello seeing the blue sky, which reminds me of Montpellier and Chambery as well as Grenoble. London is special, but I was no longer used to seeing that sky."
On going to church and being religious...
" 'Eglise' (French word for Church) is Chiesa in Italian like the attacker. So from today I like Chiesa even more as a footballer. Indeed, I take this opportunity to give him my good luck for a quick recovery. I have not yet gone to mass in Milan because, with this Covid, it is better to avoid crowded places. But every week I have a remote meeting with my London pastor. We study the Bible. For me it's fresh air. I need to feed on these words. I am an evangelical Christian. Faith is my engine. It helps me in important decisions. Like when I was close to Inter, but then I realized that Milan would be in my destiny."
You score at the San Siro always, while Ibra mostly scores in away matches. Do you have some sort of agreement?
"We do this to explain to Pioli that we have to play a game each, I at home and Ibra outside. So I start against Juventus. Seriously, I score and make assists especially when I play from the start."
Giroud, you won in each team you played in, and now you're in Milan...
"Here, you want me to say we will win the Scudetto. I am someone who always wants to compete to the maximum. It is the push that gives me a strong emotion in the depths of my heart. I do not tolerate defeat. We have the qualities to play it. To tell the truth, in my previous experiences, I have always won in the second season. But I'll make it to Milan in the first year."
Have you seen any good young Italian strikers so far?
"Scamacca has great potential. He will be the future of your national team. I have made room for young people in France. I only think of Milan and the family. I hope Italy will be able to go to the World Cup. Even if this would result in my friend Leao not qualifying for Portugal. I can only hope that the best will win."
