Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)
Newcastle United crash out of Europe after losing 2-1 at home to AC Milan
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”62″ heading=”UEFA Champions League” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”1072″ heading=”News” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
]]>
Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)
Inter Milan secured a convincing 2-0 first leg “away” victory against neighbours AC Milan in the first leg of the Champions League Semi Final.
The atmosphere inside the famous Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (aka the San Sir) was red hot with 75,000 Milanese fans packed inside. The majority of the fans were dressed in the famous red and black from AC Milan, given their status as home team in the first leg.
However it was Inter who came flying out of the blocks. They went at AC and were ahead inside just eight minutes with the forgotten man Edin Džeko rolling back the years. The 37-year old popped up in the box to put Inter 1-0 up with a powerful side-foot volley following a corner kick.
Before AC had time to recover, Henrikh Mkhitaryan made it 2-0 for Inter inside 11 minutes. Inter broke forward at pace and ex Man United player side-footed into the net after breaking into the box and finding himself one on one with the keeper.
Just four minutes later it could have been all over as Hakan Calhanoglu hit a blistering 20-yard shot towards goal. Luckily however for Milan the shot smashed off the post. VAR then came to AC Milan’s aid after forcing the referee to reverse his decision to give Inter a penalty. AC Milan were very grateful to go into the break with no further damage done after a tortuous first half for them.
AC looked stronger in the second half and were unfortunate not to get a goal back after hitting the post. However Inter still had their chances to kill the contest with Džeko forcing a great save from the AC keeper after finding himself through one on one.
Inter look strong favourites to advance to their first Champions League Final since 2010 as they host their neighbours next week in the same stadium in the second leg with a commanding 2-0 lead in the tie.
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”62″ heading=” UEFA Champions League” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”1072″ heading=”News” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)
Rafael Leao:
It may come as a surprise to some people that Rafael Leao has been included in this list as he sure made his mark in 2022, winning the Serie A MVP award as AC Milan swept to the Scudetto. However, the winger seems to have much more in his locker than he has already shown.
A quick, skillful and direct player, Leao has arguably become Milan’s most important player due to his ability to get past anyone at will. Hitting double figures in 2021/22 for both goals and assists in all competitions Leao is undoubtedly on his way to being World Class.
The 23-year-old made some superb cameos at the World Cup and bagged two goals on the biggest stage of all. A strong end to 2022 has carried over to 2023 where he scored in AC Milans first fixure of 2023 in a 2-1 victory over Salernitana.
In 2023 then Leao will be aiming to get AC Milan back on the pedestal of Italian football with his mesmerising runs and composed finishes. Come the summer we may see the Portuguese man earn a big move to a European super club with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City being heavily linked.
Alejandro Garnacho:
At 18 years of age, it is a testament to his ability that Garnacho has performed so well at senior level so far for the Red Devils. The Argentinian has already made a big impact for his side with winners in both the Europa League and the Premier League just before the break for the World Cup.
However, the winger has been publicly criticised by both his club manager, Erik Ten Hag and teammate, Bruno Fernandes for his poor attitude. Therefore in 2023 Garnacho will be aiming to put these allegations to bed and become an important player for his side.
With Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial in periods of poor form and Cristiano Ronaldo now plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, there are plenty of opportunities for Garancho to leave his mark. With his ability to dribble past defenders, he could offer United something they are currently lacking. Garnacho will also be hoping to make his debut for his national side in the near future after already training with Lionel Messi and co in 2022.
Christopher Wooh:
Arguably the most unknown in this list, Wooh currently plays for free-scoring Rennes in Ligue 1 after making his name at Lens in 2021/22. Wooh can play anywhere in the backline but is most comfortable in central defence where his pace, game reading and on-the-ball ability are utilised best.
With only a handful of starts so far for this season for Bruno Genesio’s side, Wooh will be aiming to work his way into the starting lineup where he can present his quality for all to see. With Rennes new boys Arthur Theatre and Joe Rodon struggling at the heart of defence, fans are calling for Wooh to be included in the starting XI and Genesio seems to have taken on their advice with a start vs Nice in 2023, culminating in a 2-1 victory.
With Rennes as free-scoring as ever it is important that they sort out their defensive frailties if they want to reach the promised land of the Champions League come the end of the season. This will also be Wooh’s aim who will want to establish himself in the team and stop the defence from leaking too many soft goals to the opposition.
Yunus Musah:
After leaving Arsenal’s academy, Musah has gone on to achieve big things for La Liga side Valencia. The midfielder started his career as a winger but his position change has worked wonders for his development at the top level.
After impressing for the USMNT at the 2022 World Cup Musah will be aiming for even more achievements in the coming year. A maestro in midfield, Musah is a clever player who is highly capable of keeping possession and advancing the ball through the lines with incisive passing or mazy dribbles.
With 29 league appearances for a poor Valencia side last season, Musah was one of only a handful of bright stars in an otherwise disappointing campaign, where his side finished ninth. He has deputised excellently for the departed duo of fan favourites Dani Parejo and Francis Coquelin and gives Valencia fans hope for a better placing this time around.
Under new coach Genaro Gattuso, Valencia look somewhat like the impressive side of old with Musah playing a pivotal role in central midfield. The first name on the team sheet has taken well to the Italian’s tactics of quick attacking patterns and a solid defensive base. Valencia will have to work hard to keep their hands on their prized asset with big clubs always around the corner.
Randal Kolo Muani:
A surprise package at the World Cup (he was only included due to injuries), Muani was excellent in all his cameos and made a huge difference in the final, coming on in the first half as France fought back to claim a draw come extra time. With a goal to his name vs Morocco in the semi-final, he certainly announced himself to the World Stage.
With an outstanding tally of eight goals and eleven assists for Eintracht Frankfurt before the turn of the year, Kolo Muani looks like one of the best bargains in recent history when moving from Nantes to Germany for free. Muani is a versatile forward who has great link-up play and precise penalty box finishing as well as a mix of pace and grit which makes him a manager’s favouriote.
2023 will therefore play host to lots of opportunities for the Frenchman who has Champions League knockout football to look forward to as Frankfurt take on Serie A leaders Napoli. Now entrusted by Didier Deschamps Kolo Muani will be hungry to get back to regular football after the World Cup disappointment.
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=“1072” heading=”News” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
]]>The Champions League gets back underway this week following the international break with several sides in desperate need of victories to spark their European campaign into life.
Group A
Napoli will travel to Amsterdam looking to maintain their perfect start against an Ajax side smarting from their late defeat against Liverpool. The Italians have arguably been the standout side in the competition so far and can take a giant leap towards qualification with a victory in the Dutch capital.
Elsewhere it will be a first ever meeting of Liverpool and Rangers at Anfield with both sides needing wins for different reasons. Liverpool will look to Europe to gain some form after stuttering in the league while Rangers are yet to get off the mark in their return to the top table.
Group B
Club Brugge have arguably been the biggest surprise package in the tournament so far and will look to claim another scalp when they host Atletico Madrid.
The Belgians have made a perfect start and another victory would open a big gap between themselves and third place in the group.
Porto will be aiming to get off the mark after two defeats in their first two games when they host Bayer Leverkusen. The Germans are struggling domestically but did defeat Atletico last time out so they’ll have some belief travelling to Portugal.
Group C
Bayern Munich have once more made an impressive start to a Champions League group stage and will get the action underway on Tuesday when they host Viktoria Plzen in the early kickoff.
The German champions defeated their two biggest group rivals in September and will be expecting to dispatch of their Czech visitors to maintain their lead in the group.
Inter Milan meanwhile will host Barcelona in what is the biggest game of the week.
Both sides came up short when facing Bayern and both defeated Plzen so they’ll view these two upcoming games as the key to deciding who will follow Julien Nagelsmann’s side into the last 16.
Group D
Sporting are another side who have impressed, taking six points in what looked the most open group on paper.
They travel to Marseille on Tuesday who desperately need a win if they are to stand any hope of reaching the next round. The French side have started well in the league but have struggled badly in Europe in recent years and will be desperate to give the home support something to cheer.
Tottenham will visit Eintracht Frankfurt in the other Group D clash looking to bounce back from their weekend defeat to bitter rivals Arsenal and take steps towards qualification. It will be far from easy against the Europa League winners who will also have their sights on the latter stages.
Group E
AC Milan head what has been a very tight and unpredictable Group E and will host Chelsea on Wednesday night with injuries to key players disrupting their preparation.
French pair Mike Maignan and Theo Hernandez will miss the clash against Graham Potter’s men who needs points themselves having stuttered in their opening two games.
Salzburg are unbeaten thus far but have also yet to win but a victory over Dinamo Zagreb at home would put them in good stead heading into the turn in the group. The Croatians will be aiming for another surprise victory having stunned Chelsea last month.
Group F
Holders Real Madrid have made a serene start to their title defence and host Shakhtar on Wednesday looking to maintain their 100% record.
The visitors have also made a good start to the group and look favourites to join their hosts in the next round.
Celtic will travel to Leipzig looking to build on their credible draw against Shakhtar last time out and will need to get something to keep their qualification hopes alive as will the bottom side from East Germany.
Group G
Erling Haaland has been in utterly sensational form this season with 17 goals so far and the visit of FC Copenhagen will offer the Norwegian another chance to add to his tally.
The Danes picked up a draw against Sevilla three weeks ago but will be up against a Manchester City side brimming with confidence after sticking six goals past their local rivals Manchester United.
Sevilla have made a terrible start in La Liga and need to get something at home to Borussia Dortmund to avoid being cut adrift in terms of qualification. Victory for the Germans will see them move five points clear of their hosts with just three games to play.
Group H
Benfica have been another surprise outfit this season, winning nine of ten games in all competitions and two 100% records will go head to head in this group when they host PSG.
The Lisbon side claimed a stunning victory away at Juventus last time out and even a point here at home to the French champions will boost their chances of repeating what they did last year when they knocked Barcelona out in the group stages.
Juventus will be looking to avoid the same fate as the Spaniards and nothing less than three points against Maccabi Haifa in Turin will do, with manager Max Allegri under all sorts of pressure.
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”62″ heading=”UEFA Champions League” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”1072″ heading=”News” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
Robert Lewandowski has expressed his desire to leave Bayern Munich after eight seasons at the club.
The 10-time Bundesliga champion, whose contract expires in June 2023, is seeking a new challenge in his career. He spent two years at Lech Poznan in the Polish league before joining Borussia Dortmund, and eventually Bayern.
Here are four teams who should look be looking to acquire Lewandowski this summer.
Barcelona
The Spanish side have been heavily linked with Lewandowski, with the Polish international reportedly favouring a move to Barcelona.
Xavi’s side currently have four strikers on their roster after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined Memphis Depay, Luuk de Jong, and Ferran Torres in January.
Aubameyang has scored 11 league goals in 15 appearances since joining, including a brace in his first-ever El Classico. Memphis is Barcelona’s top scorer in the league so far with 12 goals while de Jong is very much a ‘kitchen sink’ option for Xavi.
Torres has shown promising signs since joining from Manchester City, but the 22-year-old has found himself guilty of missing big chances in various games.
It is likely that Barcelona would need to offload at least one of these forwards to make room for Lewandowski in terms of squad size and game time.
AC Milan
The Rossoneri are currently battling for their first Serie A title since 2011 as they sit two points clear at the top of the table.
Stefano Pioli has used Olivier Giroud (9) most often this season in the striker position along with Zlatan Ibrahimovic (8) off the bench, but it is Rafael Leao (10) who has scored the most goals in the league for them this season.
Milan’s defence have conceded the lowest number of goals along with Inter and Napoli but both their rivals have scored more, with Inter outscoring them by ten.
The seven-time Champions League winners have also struggled to score as frequently at home. They’ve scored 26 goals at home compared to 38 away in the same number of games (18). Although Lewandowski has scored more away from this season (18 in 16), he has still scored an impressive 16 in 17 at home.
Chelsea
The Blues have made many marquee signings over the past two seasons in the striker position with Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, and Kai Havertz all coming in, but Thomas Tuchel’s side still lacks a clinical nature in the final third.
Mason Mount (11) has outscored all the Chelsea strikers in the league this season with Lukaku, Havertz, and Werner scoring eight, seven and four respectively.
Lukaku has been under fire from pundits and fans this season after an interview earlier in the season aired on Sky Italia. Many questioned the Belgian’s commitment to the club despite backing from his manager.
Lewandowski has only played twice against Chelsea in his career as he faced the London side in the last 16 of the 2019/20 Champions League. In those two games, he scored three goals and got five assists on his way to lifting the trophy in Lisbon.
Arsenal
If Lewandowski wants to have a challenge, Arsenal is the place for him. The Gunners would need to secure Champions League qualification to have any chance of signing the former Best FIFA Men’s Player, but if they can manage to finish in the top four a move would not be out of the question.
Mikel Arteta has progressed his side over the past 12 months as they go from battling for Europa Conference League last season to pushing for Champions League this season. New signings such as Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale along with Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard have given Arsenal a new identity under the Spaniard.
Arsenal are the only team in the top seven to underperform their expected goals tally. Aubameyang struggled to fire in the first part of the season and Alexandre Lacazette was finding more assists than shots on goal.
Eddie Nketiah has been scoring in recent games, along with a good record in the Carabao Cup, but has struggled to find consistent form over the course of the season.
Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe have been Arsenal’s top scorers this season, but they have also been good creatively. With the addition of Odegaard, Lewandowski can feed off the youngsters’ build-up play while bringing his world-class talent.
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”131″ heading=”Bundesliga” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”59″ heading=”EPL” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
]]>With his contract due to expire in the coming months, Divock Origi looks set to call time on his Liverpool career and embark on a new adventure in Milan, as per several media outlets.
Divock Origi's more than tempted by AC Milan contract proposal to sign him on a free. Talks in progress with his agents in order to complete the verbal agreement as soon as possible. ? #ACMilan
Liverpool board knows there are huge chances for Origi to leave as free agent.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 21, 2022
The 26-year-old has struggled for game time this season and has fallen further in the pecking order after the arrival of Colombian Luis Diaz in January.
Origi has only managed 71 minutes of action in the Premier League this season and with the World Cup coming up in November, it makes sense for the striker to now look for regular football to try and force his way into Roberto Martinez’s squad.
The Belgian is still to hit his footballing prime at only 26 so Milan may get Origi at just the right time, with the frontman keen to make an impact to add to his medal haul from his time at Anfield.
In many ways it has been a frustrating spell of his career, with Origi at one point looking destined for the exit door after a disappointing loan spell at VfL Wolfsburg in the 2017-18 campaign.
It says a lot about the character of the former Lille striker that he decided to stay and try to resurrect his Liverpool career. Whilst he never quite became Jurgen Klopp’s go-to forward, Origi has had moments in a red shirt that other players can only dream of.
He scored a last gasp winner in a Merseyside derby victory over Everton that will live long in the memory while even in his limited appearance this season, the Belgian scored a last-minute winner at Wolves which could prove crucial to Liverpool’s title challenge come the end of the season.
It was in the 2018-19 Champions League campaign that Origi really forged his status as a hero to Liverpool supporters.
The striker knocked in the opening goal in the semi-final second leg against Barcelona to give the Reds a glimmer of hope and would score once again late on to make it 4-0 and complete a momentous comeback.
Having sat on the bench for almost an hour of the final against Tottenham, the Belgian replaced Roberto Firmino and scored the vital second goal in the 87th minute to clinch a sixth European Cup for his club.
Origi now had his name in the club’s history books and any enduring frustration from the past would have then dissipated.
That is not to say the attacker is not ambitious. He could have left at any point in the previous few summer transfer windows but has held out and now looks set to move to another giant of European football in AC Milan.
Champions League football almost certainly awaits and if he can carry with him the knack of scoring goals in crucial moments, the Belgian will be just as adored among the Rossoneri as he was on the red half of Merseyside.
Perhaps before his departure, there might be one last moment in a red shirt and with the club still fighting on all fronts, a player like Origi is vital to have among the ranks.
One thing is for certain, the popular Belgian will get a brilliant send-off once he leaves the Anfield pitch for the final time.
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”527″ heading=”Liverpool” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”1072″ heading=”News” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
Milan’s Fikayo Tomori was denied a spot in the lastest England squad after Gareth Southgate chose not to select the defender for their upcoming international friendlies.
The 24-year-old missed out after Marc Guehi received his first senior international call-up with centre-backs Harry Maguire, Ben White, Conor Coady, and Tyrone Mings, who will join the squad at St Georges Park.
Tomori has been an influential part of Milan’s title push this season. The Rossoneri are three points clear at the top of the Serie A table, with Tomori playing 30 games across all competitions this season and scoring one goal.
Despite playing alongside the inexperienced Pierre Kalulu at centre-back this season, Tomori’s statistics have been excellent. He has completed 89.4% of his passes this season, won 73% of his ground duels, and has made no errors that have led to a goal.
He ranks in the 90th percentile for pressures carried out, 89th percentile for tackles, and 86th percentile for blocks compared to other centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues over the last year. He has also been named in the Serie A team of the week twice this season.
The former Chelsea player also ranks well compared to the aforementioned defenders who Southgate has given a chance. Not only has Tomori won more tackles than the centre-backs in the squad, but he has won over double the number of tackles in the midfield third, showing he can win the ball further up the pitch.
Tomori has the highest number of combined tackles and interceptions, with only Guehi having a better success percentage when tackling players embarking on dribbles with the ball. Coady is the only centre-half with a better pass completion rate than Tomori, but Guehi has the highest total distance of progressive passes.
One area where Tomori is weaker compared to his national teammates is in the air. The defender has only won 51% of his aerial duels, lower than all the selected centre-backs in the squad. Tomori also has the lowest number of clearances compared to the other squad defenders.
One of Tomori’s best performances of the season came in a recent fixture against title rivals Napoli. In their 1-0 victory at the Stadio San Paulo, he showed improvement in areas for development. Tomori racked up four clearances and won 100% of his aerial duels on his way to helping his side keep a clean sheet and nudging them towards their first title since 2011.
Whilst the omission to Southgate’s squad may come as a surprise in Italy, Milan will almost certainly gain from having Tomori back at camp with a crucial run of fixtures ahead with Inter and Napoli still in the chase for the Scudetto.
For now, Milan’s number 23 will have to wait patiently for an opportunity on the international stage but a Serie A Championship winners medal will only improve his credentials having left Chelsea to further his career.
England are set to face Switzerland and Ivory Coast in friendly games during the international break. The Three Lions have not lost a game since losing on penalties to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”338″ heading=”England” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”257″ heading=”Serie A” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
]]>
Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)
Liverpool came from behind to defeat AC Milan 2-1 at the San Siro Stadium in the final game of the Champions League group stages.
Jurgen Klopp’s side dominated possession in the first half with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s long-range effort blocked by the Milan defence.
The opening goal of the night however came against the run of play in the 28th minute. A corner from the hosts caught Takumi Minamino out of position at the near post which ended up putting off Alisson. Liverpool’s shot-stopper could only parry the ball out to Fikyo Tomori who fired it in to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
The celebrations for the majority of the 60,000 fans in the San Siro were short-lived as the Reds hit back just eight minutes later.
A great shot from Oxlade-Chamberlain could only be parried by Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan with the ball falling to the reliable Mohamed Salah who hammered it into the roof of the net. That goal saw the ‘Egyptian King’ make it 20 goals in all competitions this season.
Early on in the second half, Franck Kessie went down after a challenge from Kostas Tsimikas but the referee waved play on and from the break Divock Origi had an effort saved.
A few minutes later, the Belgian forward had more success after a rasping shot from Sadio Mane was pushed back out to him and he cleverly lobbed his header over the stranded Maignan to give Liverpool a 2-1 lead.
After that, Salah and Mane were taken off with Naby Keita and Joe Gomez coming on in their places. Nat Phillips caught the eye with a moment of brilliance after he sent both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kessie the wrong way in his own box, a moment that even Milan fans cheered for.
Liverpool held on for a historical win at the San Siro, and in turn, became the first English club to win all six Champions League group games.
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”62″ heading=”UEFA Champions League” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”1072″ heading=”News” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
Olivier Giroud has announced that he will be leaving Chelsea for AC Milan marking an end to his nine-year stay in England.
He is set to sign a two-year deal with AC Milan for an initial fee of £855,000, despite Chelsea taking up an option to extend the Frenchman’s contract at the end of the season.
The forward made the switch from North London to West London in 2018 for a fee of £18m and made 119 appearances in blue where he scored 39 goals and created a further 17.
The Frenchman took to Twitter to bid farewell to Chelsea after a successful three-and-a-half-year spell at the club.
“To all the Blues, to my teammates, to all my coaches, to the whole club, a huge thank you for these special moments.
“I’m starting a new journey with a light and happy heart. Our victories in Fa Cup, Europa League, and Champions League have been magnificent.”
Despite contributing 0.57 goals per game at Arsenal, many were sceptical about what the Frenchman could bring to the reigning Premier League champions when he signed in January 2018.
Many believed Giroud would be little more than an impact substitute after Chelsea had signed Alvaro Morata in the previous transfer window for a club-record fee of £60m at the time.
However, the Frenchman outlasted the Spaniard at the club and played his role in each of the three trophies the Blues won during his time at Chelsea.
Giroud scored the opener in the semi-final of Chelsea’s FA Cup-winning campaign in 2018. The following season the forward was the top goalscorer in the Europa League which he helped the Blues win by scoring against his former club Arsenal in the final.
The 34-year-old was also instrumental in the early part of Chelsea’s Champions League campaign scoring four goals away at Sevilla to secure the top spot in their group, before scoring an incredible bicycle kick in the round of 16 to help Chelsea defeat eventual La Liga champions, Atletico Madrid.
Overall, Giroud finished third top goalscorer in the competition with six goals and was only surpassed by new Chelsea target Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
However, as the season went on, the new Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel favoured either Timo Werner or Kai Havertz to play the striker role in his team, leading to the departure of the Frenchman.
Despite opting to activate an extension clause in the 34-year-old’s contract Chelsea bid a fond farewell to Giroud, who will move to Milan in search of regular football to try and regain his starting spot in the French national team ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
‘The World’s Best Targetman’
Chelsea legend Eden Hazard hailed Giroud’s impact on the team in September 2018 following a 4-1 victory over Cardiff in which the Frenchman set up the Belgian for two of his three goals on the day.
“He’s a target man, maybe the best in the world. I think so. When he gets the ball, he can hold it and we can go with him.”
Despite the praise from one of the Blues’ greatest ever players, Giroud has constantly had to prove himself to the various managers that have come through the door.
Antonio Conte, Maurizio Sarri and Frank Lampard were all reluctant to consistently start the forward due to not fitting the mould of their philosophies.
Despite this, Giroud always kept his head down and remained the ultimate professional on and off the pitch. The Frenchman delivered when given his chance and he supported his various strike partners from the sidelines when not picked.
Ultimately, Giroud’s quality outshone Morata, Gonzalo Higuain and Tammy Abraham in the three years he spent at Chelsea. The 34-year-old was the second choice for Conte, Sarri and Lampard when they took over at Chelsea but turned into the main striker for all of them before their dismissals.
The Frenchman will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the Premier League’s most underrated strikers as many underestimate his technical ability due to his size and stature.
Despite his big frame, Giroud has the finesse and ability to link up play with the quicker and more agile players around him.
Hazard, Willian and Pedro all thrived playing alongside the Frenchman whose intricate flicks allowed the wingers to run through on goal so often.
Alongside his link-up play, Giroud has scored some of football’s most iconic goals. The forward will forever be remembered for the scorpion kick goal against Crystal Palace but also has his fair share of bicycle and overhead kick goals and volleys which will make up an incredible highlight reel of goals for when he eventually calls time on his illustrious career.
Furthermore, the 34-year-old sits just five goals away from overtaking Thierry Henry and becoming France’s all-time leading goalscorer.
However, having lost his starting spot to Karim Benzema at the Euros this summer and a lack of playing time domestically could hinder his chances of breaking that record and therefore a move away from London seemed the most logical move as the Blues look to bring in a big-name striker this summer.
Despite his age, Giroud has shown he still has a lot to offer as a goalscorer and provider and AC Milan will be the beneficiaries of that.
Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt
[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”59″ heading=”EPL” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”65” heading=”Chelsea” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]
]]>Atlanta 68points – Remaining fixtures –Sassuolo (A) , Parma (A), Benevento (H), Genoa (A), Juventus (Coppa Italia Final), AC Milan (H) Form WDWWW
Gian Piero Gasperini’s men continue to delight and excite. The top scoring team in Serie A seized the initiative in the top four battle with a recent 1-0 victory over Juventus. Sassuolo will provide a tough challenge but after this Atalanta face three teams in the bottom half of the table. Parma are likely to be relegated by then, while Genoa should be safe and have nothing to play for. Win three of these four games and Champions League qualification for a third consecutive year ought to be secured. This would be a fantastic achievement for La Dea cementing them as a powerhouse in Italian football. Second place in Serie A and a Coppa Italia win would be the most successful season in Atalanta’s history. Prediction 2nd
Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta could secure their best ever season. (Credit: Atalanta.it)
Napoli 66points – Remaining fixtures – Cagliari (H), Spezia (A), Udinese (H), Fiorentina (A), Verona (H) Form WWDWL
Gennaro Gattusso is rumoured to be leaving at the end of the season but he has galvanised Napoli in recent weeks with a valuable point against table topping Inter followed up by a huge 5-2 win over top 6 rivals Lazio. Results elsewhere see Gli Azzurri now sit in the box seat for Champions League qualification. On paper they have the easiest run in. Cagliari and Spezia are fighting for their Serie A lives whilst Udinese, Fiorentina and Verona are stuck in mid-table mediocrity. Expect Napoli to pick up at least ten points from the remaining fifteen to return to Europe’s elite competition after missing out last season. Prediction 3rd
Gatusso’s future may be in doubt but Napoli look a good bet for the top four. (Credit SSCNapoli.it)
Juventus 66points – Remaining fixtures – Udinese (A), AC Milan (H), Sassuolo (A), Inter (H), Atalanta (Coppa Italia Final), Bologna (A) Form DWLWW
Finishing outside the top four would be a disaster for Juve, whose gamble hiring Andrea Pirlo has not paid off. For all his titles, elegance and plaudits as a player, Pirlo is clearly still learning what it means to be a manager at the top level. This is worrying for I Bianconeri considering their current position and remaining fixtures. A massive game against AC Milan awaits on May 9th, which could essentially be a winner takes all clash for fourth place. Juventus then have a tough trip to eighth place Sassuolo followed by Inter at home. Having likely been crowned champions by then, Antonio Conte’s side and their fans would love nothing more than to deliver a killer blow to their bitter rivals’ Champions League hopes. The next six games will be the truest test of Pirlo’s fledgling managerial credentials. Winning the Coppa Italia is unlikely to save him, with the rumours of Massimiliano Allegri returning to the Juve bench refusing to go away. Prediction 5th
Juve’s top four hopes and Andrea Pirlo’s job are at risk. (Credit: Juventus.com)
AC Milan 66points – Remaining fixtures – Benevento (H), Juventus (A), Torino D (A), Cagliari (H), Atalanta (A) Form LLWWD
Milan topped the table in January, however maintaining the breakneck pace of their 27-game unbeaten following Serie A’s resumption in June was always going to be a tough ask for the young Rossoneri. Long term injuries to experienced heads Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alessio Romagnoli haven’t helped, and Stefano Pioli’s side come into this crucial stretch in bad form. Milan will be looking to beat lowly Benevento comfortably next before a huge game against Juventus. Crucially, Ibrahimovic should be back by then. Win this and Pioli’s side will be in a strong position and will be hoping to secure a top four finish before a tough trip to Atalanta on the final day. Prediction 4th
Stefano Pioli’s young AC Milan side hope for positive end to the season. Credit: acmilan.com
Lazio 61points – Remaining fixtures – Genoa (H), Fiorentina (A), Parma (H), Roma (A), Torino (A), Sassuolo (A) Form WLWWW
Simone Inzaghi’s side have an outside change of gate-crashing the top four with last week’s convincing 3-0 win over AC Milan keeping their hopes alive. A five-point gap and an inferior goal difference to their rivals is a tough handicap to overcome, however all of Lazio’s remaining games are against sides below them in the table and they do have a game in hand. Le Acquile are in great form, winning four out of their past five games with deadly striker Ciro Immobile back in form. The teams above them will drop points, with Milan facing both Juventus and Atalanta in the remaining games. However, Lazio will likely need five wins out of six to secure a back-to-back top four finishes. Prediction 6th
Can Simone Inzaghi and Lazio force their way into the top four? (Credit SSLazio.it)
Don’t forget……. Roma
Roma are all but eliminated from qualifying for the Champions League via Serie A. But are Italy’s sole remaining representative in this season’s European Club competitions. Should they overcome Man Utd in the Europa League semi-finals, they will face Arsenal or Villareal in Gdansk on May 26th for a chance to qualify for the Champions League.
]]>