At the twilight of a magnificent and long career, Olivier Giroud no longer saw himself evolving at a very high level at 38 years old. The 2018 world champion therefore decided not to extend the adventure at AC Milan last spring. After Euro 2024 as a farewell to the France team, the left-handed center forward joined Hugo Lloris in MLS, at Los Angeles FC. His first half-season was catastrophic on a personal level since he did not score for the Californian team until their elimination in the conference semi-finals.
However, the Rossoneri miss Giroud terribly. His successor at the forefront of the Milan attack is (unsurprisingly) much less useful in the game than the former French international. Alvaro Morata disappointed again during the Italian Super Cup semi-final won by the Lombard club against Juventus last Friday in Saudi Arabia. The Spanish European champion has 5 goals in 19 matches in all competitions this season, his English competitor Tammy Abraham has scored as many in 20 appearances.
Giroud a “giant” next to Morata
Journalist Fabio Ravezzani, from Telelombardia, came across Morata: “Milan has two big problems. Theo, it’s clear. The other is less obvious but also more problematic: Morata. His courage is not enough. The Spaniard scores very little, gives no assists and has no impact in the area. Compared to him, even the old Giroud looks like a giant”. In reality, at 32 years old, from Real to Atlético via Chelsea and especially Juve, Morata has never been a crack. His recruitment, even for 13 million euros, was not wise to compensate for the departure of Giroud.
AC Milan’s season is obviously disappointing, Sérgio Conceiçao having taken advantage of the ousting of Paulo Fonseca to settle on the bench. In Serie A, the 2022 Italian champion is only 8th in the ranking with seven small victories in 17 days. The record is much better in the Champions League with four victories in six matches. Mike Maignan and his teammates (the Blues goalkeeper was promoted to captain by Conceiçao) can save their season a little by winning the Super Cup against Inter this Monday (8 p.m., on L’Equipe Live foot).
