"I'm like a chameleon", declared Olivier Giroud in an interview he granted to French outlet L'Equipe as he described his process of settling in well and quickly at Milanello with his new team, AC Milan. The French legendary striker who has managed to win the Champions League and the World Cup among other trophies, is still hungry for more success at club and national team levels. Like his teammate, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he is still strong with a lot of threat in his plays when taking the pitch. But, what is it really that makes the former Montpellier man so unique?
High work ethic, determination and skills...
"He is a real team player, what is not always the case for strikers, and overall I think he is an exceptional personality. And that’s why every time you think he’s disappeared, he bounces back." Described Arséne Wenger in a past interview the 35-year-old he coached for many years at the Emirates stadium. In fact, while Giroud may not score many goals on a regular basis these days, he is always there, giving his best efforts to help out his teammates in any way possible. The way Giroud works best is by trying to poach any chances and even half opportunities in the penalty box.
The French centre-forward who actually scored 24 goals and 6 goals in the 2015/2016 season for Arsenal provides more than just goals and assists. Like Ibrahimovic, he is good in the air and can be used as a 'station' for receiving long balls and passing them to his teammates, midfielders or wingers who are ready to exploit the spaces and go deeper.
His style of play and his physique is therefore dangerous for defenders. He always causes worries to centre-backs who constantly keep in mind that, despite being quiet at times, he can steal the spotlight in just a few minutes, like how he did in his first ever Derby Di Milano in February 2022.
Thierry Henry also sang high praise in the past for the seasoned attacker:
"Olivier is the type of striker that is kind of dying right now", he told GOAL, "The old school, holding the ball up, passing the ball to the winger, getting into the box and breaking your neck to score with a header. But what I like is how he puts people in a game. He’s very good, he will give the assist sometimes when you link up with him on a one-two. He’s that type of player and I think it’s very good for the national team to have a different dimension to the other guys, who like to go in behind and go out to the wing and drop in."
Speaking of Henry, Giroud is 4 goals away from equalising the former Arsenal and Barcelona legend's record with the national team record. Thierry Henry in fact has 51 goals while the AC Milan star has now 47 after scoring a header from a cross delivered by Theo Hernandez in the last friendly of France vs Ivory Coast.
The Rossonero number 9 continues to work hard and will always leave the door open for the national team in the future. He believes that AC Milan are his key to staying competitive and therefore remain in the national team's radar: "I never closed the door... When you wear a jersey like that of AC Milan, you stay competitive and you score with this big club and you are at the top of Serie A. The coach (Didier Deschamps) knows the requirements of this Championship."
Giroud is a decorated star with many major trophies to his name, he is still eyeing up a couple of records to achieve in his career. He plans to continue with AC Milan this adventure and work hard. The idea is to be rewarded with a national team call-up for the World Cup in Qatar. He came in clutch so many times for "Les Bleus" and for all the clubs he played for. His goals speak for him, yet he is underrated. Like Thierry Henry said before, he is a "dying" breed now. Not many players create space to his teammates like he does. But, coach Stefano Pioli knows exactly how to use these qualities and plans to deploy him whenever possible in order to finally get his hands on his first trophy in his managerial career.
Giroud, who arrived for a reported cool 1 million euros from Chelsea in the summer of 2021, despite his old age, still has so much to offer to AC Milan and to the national team. He adapted at Milanello so well. And like a "Chameleon", he does not move around very quickly, but he knows how to hunt his target and get the job done.
