Chelsea has certainly changed a lot, with a new strongman, Todd Boehly, at its head, after the Roman Abramovich era, and on the bench a new coach Graham Potter, the successor to Thomas Tuchel ousted in September. But Giroud will still be a bit like home at Stamford Bridge, his lair for three and a half years (January 2018-July 2021). London fans, too, have probably not forgotten their French striker, nor his last goal: a decisive return on the field of Atlético Madrid (1-0) in the round of 16 first leg of C1 in February 2021 .
This stunt did not change Giroud’s status during this last English season: most often left on the bench by Tuchel, as in the Champions League final won against Manchester City (1-0), The third and third trophies with Chelsea after the FA Cup 2018 and the Europa League in 2019.
The one who had failed to join Inter Milan in January 2020 then set sail for the rival club, AC Milan, in the summer of 2021 to revive, tired of this role of « supersub » (super substitute) and decided to show that he still had goals under his cleats.
“Often undervalued”
The world champion, however, spoke of a risk, arrived in a role of double the blur of the local monument, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But the declining physique of the Swedish forty-year-old and a few decisive goals have gradually imposed Giroud as an evidence at the forefront of the team, crowned Italian champions in May.
The Frenchman himself had to deal with a few glitches during his first months but he is now faithful to the position, a real « titolarissimo »: he has played all the matches of AC Milan since January 1, 2022 (33 matches, including 28 as holder)!
“It’s often undervalued at the start of the season: it’s not going to be fast, it’s not going to be stuck in the eye with the gestures of the spectacular and a score is going to be 30 goals in a championship…. But he is very intelligent and in this very useful to the team, ”according to ex-Italian international Gianfranco Zola, assistant to Maurizio Sarri when the latter coached the London club (2018-19).
« His goals may be few for a centre-forward, but they’re all important […] I had no doubt that he would succeed (in Milan), he was the right person to alternate with Ibrahimovic,” he explained to the weekly Sportweek.
“A lot of thunder again”
The only meetings missed in 2022 by Giroud are with the Blues, in June, didier Deschamps having dismissed him again before recalling in September due to the injury of Karim Benzema.
Author against Austria (2-0) of his 49th but in tricolor, the disputed center-forward regulation in one took advantage to get ever closer to the record holder Thierry Henry (51) and confirms that he remained a candidate for the 2022 World Cup at the Qatar (November 20-December 18), enterprising and debate that will last until the announcement of the list in November.
At 36, Giroud is doing what it takes to be on the trip, with his enthusiasm and continuing to weigh on Serie A defenses, where his agreement sparks with Rafael Leao, 23. « He still has a lot at Thunder in Milan, » ex-Rossoneri and Blues striker Andriy Shevchenko, Giroud’s idol, told MilanTV.