Milan striker Giroud on the Scudetto: “I was lucky enough to have Sheva congratulate me” | OneFootball

AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud has said that Andriy Shevchenko congratulated him after he helped the team secure the Scudetto last weekend.

Speaking during an interview with Europe1 Sport, via Milan News, Giroud opened up about how special it is to have delivered a Scudetto for the Milan fans after 11 years without one.

“I think you really realise the impact it has had in Milan and in Italy on the uncovered bus. You see these hundreds of thousands of Milan fans who have been waiting for it for a while,” he said.

“We are all very proud to have Milan back at the top. It was a hard fight until the end and you realise you are joining a very big club when you see all this passion around you and the class that reigns in this historic club. You go through so much.”

Giroud won a title with Montpellier in France a long time ago and he feels it is special to deliver that to a fanbase again. He also got congratulations from a very special former Milan striker.

“I am happy. Ten years after Montpellier it’s just happiness. It’s a beautiful story, especially because AC Milan had been waiting for it for eleven years. The party has lived up to expectations, all these years, for the fans.

“For my part, I was lucky enough to have Sheva (Andriy Shevchenko) who also congratulated me. These are things that warm the heart.”

The Frenchman is clearly very aware of how historically important it is to have been a part of this team who won the Scudetto. He feels they are entering the history of the club.

“There have been great players who have passed through Milan. But it’s a source of pride to have contributed to building this Scudetto, eleven years later with experienced players like Ibrahimovic, it’s fantastic.

“They were incredible moments. We had a great season, we were rewarded for all our efforts and yes, we are entering Milan’s history.

“We have done it and we are entering the legend of the club. We’re still a long way from the big Milan players, but it’s nice to be associated with all these great players.”

The former Chelsea man then admitted that the goal for this season was to get to the top four rather than to win the Scudetto.

“Not everything was written when we arrived with Mike (Maignan) this year. The goal was to qualify for the Champions League, to get back on top. The goal, initially, was not to win the Scudetto. We became aware of our qualities and, above all, of our possibilities.”

On the French dressing room

“The Milan dressing room has a strong French accent, if you can call it that, with all the French people. There are also other players who speak French, like Franck Kessié, Ismael Bennacer, Ballo-Touré.

“There are other French people, like Bakayoko. Many of us speak French, so it’s true that there really is this slightly French team, like there was at Arsenal.

“We are fortunate to have spent most of the season with four Frenchmen in this team and it is a source of pride for us.”

On his own season

“It was an important decision after nine years in England, in the Premier League, to leave this league and find a challenge that I could enjoy, to convince me to keep winning.

“It’s true that Italians like to remember that I almost signed for several clubs in Italy before coming to AC Milan. But I told them that destiny wanted me to sign here and it’s going like a dream.

“To be at AC Milan and to participate fully in this beautiful story is incredible. It was another challenge that I needed and it also led to a Scudetto. I couldn’t dream of anything better.”

On the World Cup

“It would be a lie to say that I don’t want to play a third World Cup, certainly my last competition. At that point I will be 36 years old. And if I am still competitive with my club, yes, I hope to continue helping France.

“There are still many months to go until then. I will take advantage of my holidays and savour this title with my club. Then we’ll see what happens.”