Olivier Giroud, AC Milan's French centre-forward, granted an interview to "Colinterview - Oh My Goal" and said the following words:
"I feel very good, I have the opportunity to play without pain and it is a luxury when you are a professional player and above all, 35 years old."
On his start to the season:
"I had some physical problems that weren't usual. I contracted the coronavirus in September after starting well and then I had back problems. It is a neuromuscular disease that accentuates all the inflammation in your body and I have had back problems. I forced it and got hurt three days after the negativity. I was in the group to go to Anfield in the Champions League, I came back and I got hurt. The pains lasted six weeks and I haven't played for a while. After that I had ankle and ischium problems for a month. In the meantime I have done everything to stay in shape, I have taken all the preventive measures."
How do you prepare keeping in mind the age?
"I pay more attention to muscle activation before training. Your body reminds you that you need to take care of it. You have to foresee and listen to your body."
On adapating to Italy and Milan:
"I signed up this summer when I was 34, almost 35. At this age you have enough experience and you have a pretty good and easy ability to adapt compared to a young person who puts more pressure on himself, arriving in a new country. , with a different culture and language. Getting in touch with others has always been easy for me, I had some basic Italian, as well as my origins from my grandmother. I knew some vocabulary: it is important for the country you arrive in, for the people."
"What facilitated my integration is certainly the fact that we speak French, I found some guys I knew and in the end what the coach asks me on the pitch is something not too complicated for me, because I know that what awaits me and what to do. It's more a matter of adapting to referees who have a tendency to whistle for lighter contacts than in the Premier League. I also learned gestures", said Giroud.
On Serie A:
"I am pleasantly surprised by the Italian championship. There are competitive teams, even with the small ones it is difficult to play because they play with great intensity. They are very physical. It is a championship that is said to be tactical and physical, but today many goals are scored, there are many spaces and a lot of intensity. The teams really play to score goals and it's the top for us strikers."
On the choice to go to AC Milan:
"It is true that in the last season I had had problems with minutes and the competition was strong. When the club became interested in me, I clearly accepted right away. For me it was a test. I spoke with the sports director Massara and Maldini. You become aware that they have sought you and the speech they made convinced me quickly. I feel lucky and proud to have spent 9 years in the Premier League, in great English clubs where I have won so much. I turned the page and Milan is a great adventure that presented itself in front of me to win and return to the top in Italy."
Olivier Giroud on the competition with Zlatan Ibrahimovic
"I see it as a challenge, something that pushes me on a daily basis. It is an opportunity to have him as my partner, to learn more. He is an example for many strikers and when I was young I loved him, both on the pitch and for his strong character, the fact of being demanding every day with himself and with others. It is a healthy competition."
