AC Milan's star forward Olivier Giroud scored 14 goals in his first season in Serie A. The former Arsenal and Chelsea star's goals were all heavy and mattered a lot in this campaign. The experienced player is now celebrating with his friends and teammates and he reveals how the festivities are ongoing in an interesting interview to L'Equipe:
"The celebrations reflected the expectation of the club and the tifosi. Everything has been exceptional since the end of the match in Sassuolo. There, there were more than 18,000 supporters. We played at home. The people of Milan have been waiting for this trophy for eleven years. The communion was enormous."
He added:
"We've already had a great party in the locker room. We all "popped" the cigars! But only Zlatan came out with it for the trophy presentation. Only he could do that. He was as happy as for his first title, it showed. He also had a word for everyone in the locker room and then in the bus that brought us back to Milan. We had a first party when we arrived with nearly 30,000 supporters at Casa Milan. And the next day, we paraded on a double-decker bus for four hours to the Duomo in front of tens of thousands of people. There was even Silvio Berlusconi. Lots of fans had tears in their eyes", declared a joyful Giroud.
On the five key moments of the season...
"The fight with Inter for the Scudetto? The scenario with Inter is incredible. We've played a final every weekend for weeks. We were in total apnea! This battle magnifies this title even more. We put our ancestral rivals behind us."
On scoring a brace against Sassuolo:
"I was keen to finish well, especially since I was coming out of a period when I had scored less. This title is the success of a group which has never given up and which has been united. We have always stuck together. From Leao who was crowned best player of the season to Mike (Maignan) in goal passing to (Sandro) Tonali or (Pierre) Kalulu who had a great second part of the season. Theo (Hernandez) has also been phenomenal on the left. This title also has a nice French accent."
Giroud is the AC Milan top scorer in Serie A with 11 goals same like Leao:
"I had a difficult time at the beginning of autumn with the Covid and then back pain. But, I worked hard. I knew how to be decisive in key matches like during my double against Inter (2-1) or with goals in Naples (1-0) or on the field of Lazio Rome (2-1) . It ended with this double in Sassuolo. This end of the season was exhausting but it was worth it. I finished it with fourteen goals in all competitions and also four assists."
Did you imagine this happy ending when you signed for Milan in the summer?
"This title and my season confirm me in this choice. I took off the Ibra lining label little by little to make my place. In the head of the coach, I was never Zlatan's replacement. The rotation was always balanced when we were both available. We did the job. Ibra finished with eight goals in the Championship. The guy still did the job at 40. And me, at 35, I proved that I could last a few more seasons."
10 years after Montpellier, this is your second national title:
"With Montpellier, it was the club's first league title and completely unexpected. There, it is the 19th coronation of AC Milan but a whole generation was waiting to experience it. The city was in fusion. In intensity."
On the relationship with coach Stefano Pioli:
"He's the first person I spoke to about coming. He convinced me in two minutes. It was a beautiful human encounter. He was the architect of this title by putting a lot of energy into it. He reminds me a bit of René Girard with Montpellier in the grinta that he transmits even in training. He coaches with his heart."
On not being called up to the France national team, did the news bother you?
"If it bothers me? Not at all. I did not waver. I knew that I had only one answer to have: go for the title with AC Milan."
How do you live this situation with the national team:
"I take it all with detachment and serenity. There is a bit of disappointment all the same, but no bitterness. I know I still have great things to do. Already with my club then with the France team if it returns. 'Les Bleus' remain the red thread of my career."
Giroud, scoring against South Africa and Cote D'Ivoire must have given you more hope with the France national team...
"History has shown that the coach could evolve in his thinking. He knows the ins and outs. I will always believe it. I proved that I was able to put my "pseudo" pride and my "pseudo" ego aside. The situation is clear. The coach knows what it is. He knows my role and my mentality. He makes his choices. But I won't let go. I remain at the disposal of the France team."
