A transfer that was long time coming, Olivier Giroud finally became a Milan player on Saturday. A search that long began to find a backup to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Milan decided to go with Experience and a winning mentality over youth and exuberance.
With Giroud’s transfer being confirmed by Maldini 2 days before it was officially announced Giroud was Milan’s worst kept secret.
Milan signed the player for a transfer fee of 1 Million with a bonus of 1 Million to be paid to Chelsea if Milan make it to the Champions League.
Here is why Milan have recruited Giroud
BACK STORY
Olivier Giroud was born on 30th September 1986 in Chambery France. He started out at French club Grenobles but his breakthrough was achieved with Montipellier when they won the Ligue 1 against all odds of new money bags in town PSG. He was their talisman scoring 21 goals in 36 games
This league win earned him a move to Arsenal. He ended a 9 year trophy drought at Arsenal by winning F.A cup in back to back seasons and a 3rd time in 2017-2018 season. He then responded to the calling of Conte and moved to Chelsea as a backup striker to Morata winning an FA Cup before he became Chelsea’s striker for Cup games and won the Europa League under Sarri. A final feat before making the all imminent move to Milan was winning the elusive Champions League trophy.
At the International stage France needed a #9 to complement their attack. With Benzema banished from the French squad by Didier Deschamps, Giroud stepped in to play a crucial role winning the 2018 World Cup for France
A self- announced Shevchenko fan Giroud always spoke about his passion for Milan and Shevchenko. Now maybe at 35 he will hopefully be able to realize his dream and win a trophy for Milan
WHY MILAN HAVE SIGNED GIROUD: A TACTICAL PROFILE
Milan under Pioli have looked to function as a 4-2-3-1 on paper while alternating between 3-4-2-1 and 2-3-5 on the ball with a #9 upfront acting as a single tip of the attack. When Milan had Ibrahimovic out injured, Milan tried Rafael Leao, Ante Rebic and Samu Castilejo but the results were all the same. While Milan were able to score goals they quite were not able to penetrate their opponents in the same way they could under Ibrahimovic. The biggest Challenge came when Milan had to secure a win against Cagliari at the San Siro to qualify for the Champions League but Milan came against a wall or rather a bus with Cagliari parking the bus and Milan not able to penetrate. Milan tried to plug this gap with Mandzukic but was another profile that was often admitted to the infirmary.
His most significant feature is his ability to hold up the ball. Something Milan missed sorely. When teams play a mid-block to a high press Kjaer or Maignan can punt crosses into the center forward. This plan could not be executed earlier when Ibrahimovic was absent but with Giroud Milan can by-pass lines of press with quick long balls.
Hold up play from Giroud
Giroud is 6ft 3 inches tall and this makes him an aerial threat. Center backs are always aware of his ability to position himself in space and expect his team mate to find him with a pass or cross. This would be particularily useful against teams who like to sit back and allow their opposition to spam crosses into the box
When initially Spaletti and later Pep Guardiola played with a false 9 aka no real striker, it bamboozled center backs who were traditionally used to marking a striker but with time coaches were able to adjust their tactics and teach defenders to negate the movement of the false 9. Milan were semi-successful with this tactic but struggled in the big games. Having Giroud would help Milan have a striker to engage defenders and play off of them. Girould could engage defenders with his hold up play or draw defenders out of positions making pockets of space for the forwards or runners to make runs into.
With tacticians being increasingly obsessed with high line and ball playing ability even strikers are now expected to have the technical ability to play passes and find their team mates with the ball. Lewandowski, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Benzema are all modern forwards who facilitate play for their team mates to score. Giroud can be classified of the same mold. He has deft touches, ability to find team mates and good passing ability.
A distinguishing feature of Milan was its pressing in the first half of the season. It even made its forward Zlatan press the center backs. Giroud who played for Thomas Tuchel also pressed opponents and suits Pioli when he would like to press opponents
The modern center-forward is also expected to be physically able to challenge and engage opposition defenders and midfielders and Giroud has the physical skill to challenge defenders.
Last but not the least he has a knack for the spectacular. From his famous Scorpion kick for his Puskas award winner to his acrobatic finish vs Atletico, Giroud has a wide range of finishes in his arsenal.
STATISTICAL COMPARISON
Numbers are often indicators to performances and here is a comparison between the 2 big men up front for Milan.
DEAL OR NO DEAL
Milan have made a low risk, high reward approach here with Giroud. To begin with Giroud made the jump to Milan well knowing he would be number 2 to Zlatan whenever he can stay fit. This attitude is welcome and shows personal sacrifice for the welfare of the team.
When asked about the Giroud transfer Zlatan welcomed it with open arms. To one of the youngest team in Serie A another experienced campaigner like Giroud can help the team get over mental barriers. Milan missed a player like Zlatan in their matchup against Cagliari and the match lacked a winner like Giroud who had been in such situations before,
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