AC Milan striker, Olivier Giroud earned a spot in the Serie A Fantasy Football Team of The Week as a goalkeeper following his impressive showing between the posts against Genoa at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Saturday, October 7, 2023.
The Rossoneri [Red and Blacks] defeated Genoa 1-0 with Christian Pulisic scoring the lone goal of the game in the 87th minute, but the match hero was ‘Oli’ as Giroud is popularly called in Milan.
The 37-year-old who earlier replaced Alessandro Florenzi in the 66th minute of the game put on the goalkeeper gloves to man the posts after Milan’s goalkeeper, Mike Maignan, was red-carded in the 98th minute.
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Giroud was decent between the sticks as Milan held on to secure the win. He made an excellent save in the 103rd minute to prevent Genoa striker George Puskas from equalising.
His impressive efforts were enough to earn him a place in the Serie A Fantasy Game Team of The Week as a goalkeeper.
Giroud told the Milan website it was an incredible experience to be the goaltender.
“I’ve never experienced anything like it,” Giroud said.
“But I used to go in goal as a boy. I said to myself: ‘Go.’ I don’t have the instincts of a goalkeeper but right then I felt like one. I’m really proud of this team because we fought until the end. We fought like Lions.”
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Serie A fantasy football Partner, Fantacalcio revealed it’s Team of The Week on X (formerly Twitter). The list comprises Giroud as goalkeeper, Romelu Lukaku (Roma), Leandro Paredes (Roma), Leonardo Spinazzola, Federico Gatti (Juventus), IIario Monterisi (Frosinone), Valentin Castellanos (Lazio), Matias Soule (Juventus), Matias Vecino (Lazio), Giacomo Bonaventura (Fiorentina).
Giroud joins a long list of outfield players who have had to become makeshift goalkeepers after red cards or other instances. Players like Harry Kane, Dani Alves, John Terry, John O’Shea, the great Brazilian Pele, Rio Ferdinand Kyle Walker amongst others have had to man the posts at one time or the other.
To celebrate Giroud’s heroics in the game with Genoa, AC Milan have made special Giroud goalkeeper jerseys and put them out for sale. AC Milan supporters and fans can now acquire the Frenchman’s goalkeeping kit.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner has netted four goals and provided three assists in seven Serie A games this term.
Milan are currently atop the Serie A table in the 2023/24 season with a total of 21 points from eight games. They will face Juventus next on Sunday, October 22 at the San Siro Stadium.
By Toju Sote
