Over the course of his career, AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud has been known as many things. His amazing goals for Arsenal, his all-around quality for the French national team, and his current longevity as the Rossoneri’s starting striker.
You might even recognize him as the Premier League’s most handsome player.
You may now add clutch goalkeeper to the list.
Giroud played goal in Milan’s 1-0 win against Genoa on Saturday night, as star goalie Mike Maignan was sent off in the 97th minute of stoppage time in a 115-minute contest.
Because of Maignan’s red card (which would be followed by another for Genoa just minutes later), Milan needed to recruit an emergency goalie. And who better to turn to than the squad’s most seasoned member, Mr. Giroud?
Far from enjoying a quiet final few minutes to end the game against a re-promoted Genoa, Giroud was called into action in a big way, scrambling to make a superb stop in the 105th minute to rescue the game.
Fans on Twitter, not just Milan fans or Serie A followers, were stunned to see the 37-year-old jump to whisk the ball away from an attacker’s feet as if he were Manuel Neuer in his heyday.
André Onana just can’t seem to get a break! (Or, for that matter, a ball.) Milan fans will be disappointed, but they will remember how Onana helped Inter reach the Champions League Final in 2022/23.
Given how much better he played than last year’s Milan backup goalie, they should keep that graphic because it may not be the last time he is called upon if Maignan is injured.
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(I’m joking, I’m joking…or am I?
Hello, hello, hello…Watch what you say about one of the top strikers in Serie–no, wait, he really shouldn’t be starting as striker for Milan, if we’re being honest. But here’s the issue with Giroud.
When you count him out because he appears lethargic, he goes ahead and makes the game-winning, goal-saving play. He didn’t find the back of the net this time, but he did preserve the goal.
There you have it! Someone else had the same thought about the prime Neuer speech!
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