Legendary former Italian forward Gianfranco Zola spoke to SportWeek, a magazine of La Gazzetta dello Sport. Here are his words about the time he knew the French star of AC Milan Olivier Giroud, when he was at Chelsea:
"He has always behaved like an excellent professional and has proved his worth on the pitch. He is true, he is one who at the beginning of the season is often underestimated: he is not fast, he does not steal the eye with spectacular plays, he does not score 30 goals in the championship... But he is very intelligent, and therefore useful to the team. He has shown it with us and is showing it with Milan. The goals he scores are perhaps few to be a center forward, but all very important."
On his best qualities:
"I repeat: intelligence and knowing how to put oneself at the service of the team. He is one of those strikers loved by attacking midfielders and second strikers, because he is very good at putting them in a position to play well and be dangerous. Olivier does not demand the leading role for himself at all costs, he knows how to act as a "shoulder" for others. Hazard loved playing with him because of his ability to act as a 'station': the Belgian went around him and benefited from his movements and touches. He is smart from a tactical point of view, very skilled in entering the attacking action and therefore playing support to his teammates. But, he is not a finisher. Of course, if you want to bet on the counterattack, he will never be your ideal “nine”, because he not fast enough. But if you want to develop a maneuvered attacking game and you want a central reference to lean on and around which to rotate your teammates, he is number one. He is very good at protecting the ball with the opponent behind him, allowing his teammates to go up. The classic player useful to the cause."
Zola on Olivier Giroud again:
"He never complained to us when he wasn't playing. He never created problems, he was always positive. An exemplary behaviour. And we are talking about a player of international standing, a leader in the locker room, winner of a World Cup: he would have had some reason in demanding more."
On settling in at Milan:
"I had no doubts about his success. He was the right person to rotate with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He is also the perfect player for Pioli's game. He is very good, tall and big. Therefore, it is very difficult to move him. Then he is able to be found on crosses in the best position to hit. But he's not the strongest because he doesn't jump a lot."
Zola on Chelsea - Milan:
"The pressure will be on the English after achieving only one point in the group. Milan will play with greater confidence, and it could be a decisive factor, because the Rossoneri, when they play in serenity and lightness, express their qualities at their best. They have creative players who attack the pitch well. Especially on the left, with Leao and Theo. If Milan have the pitch ahead, they become extremely dangerous. Chelsea? The team has changed coaches and is reorganizing and this can be another element in Milan's favor. But it remains one of the best teams in the world, playing in the most important and qualitative league of all. It will certainly be a beautiful match. All the teams playing in the Premier League start with an advantage over their opponents, because the English one is a championship that prepares you better because it is "higher" than the others: in terms of pace and average technical quality. This gives you an indubitable advantage, the same that the Serie A clubs had over other tournaments during the 90s. The fact remains that just a year ago Chelsea won the Champions League, so we are talking about a team with an international caliber at the moment superior to the Rossoneri. the same that the Serie A clubs had vis-à-vis other tournaments during the 90s. But Milan are in their second consecutive participation in the Champions League, playing dynamic and aggressive football in turn, and this could reduce the difference from the athletic point of view", declared Zola.
