Oliver Giroud admits he 'didn't fit' LAFC, but is eager to 'challenge myself one more time' at Lille
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Olivier Giroud admits his brief tenure at Los Angeles FC was disappointing, although he will cherish the friendships and the trophy he gathered during his year in Major League Soccer.
The 38-year-old striker is eager to play once again in France after 13 years away, and he confirmed Sunday night that he will join Lille to take on one more challenge in his storied career.
The top goal-scorer in the history of the French national team said farewell to LAFC by going scoreless and coming off with what he called tendon pain after 60 minutes in a 1-0 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps. Giroud had a golden opportunity to score in front of goal early in the second half, but volleyed a pass from Denis Bouanga over the bar.
Giroud was still given a standing ovation by the BMO Stadium fans who stayed firmly behind him while he scored just five goals in 38 matches for their club.
'I wish I could have had a bigger impact on the team, on the results,' Giroud said. 'At the end, it was a good experience. Obviously I can't stay longer, so I need a new chapter. I need to challenge myself one more time, and when I had the opportunity to come back (to) France, I just grabbed it. I wish nothing but the best for the club. I tried hard. I tried my best.'
Giroud was under contract until the end of the current MLS season, but LAFC and Giroud mutually agreed to part ways so he could leave on a free transfer. He confirmed he will soon join Lille, which finished fifth in Ligue 1 last season to earn a Europa League place.
'I think the French people are happy that Paul Pogba, myself are coming back in the French league,' Giroud said of his Monaco-bound friend and teammate on France's World Cup-winning team in 2018.
'If you would have asked me a few years before, I would have answered you that was not the plan to come back, but you never know, and never say no,' Giroud added. 'I think this club ticked a lot of boxes for me and for my family. (I) hope that I can be helpful for the team, being a leader and a link-up player on the field, but (also) off the pitch between the youngsters and the staff. I'm excited because we also play Europa League. It's very positive. It's a big club in France, Lille. Top five.'
Giroud hasn't played in Ligue 1 since 2012, when he left Montpellier for the start of his famed six-year tenure at Arsenal. He subsequently won the Champions League and the Europa League with Chelsea before winning Serie A with AC Milan.
Giroud moved to LAFC in July 2024, but he now acknowledges he never fit into the system played by LAFC and its championship-winning coach, Steve Cherundolo — who is also leaving the club this fall.
'If you know football, you understand that in one sense, yeah, I didn't really fit to maybe the game style, I would say,' Giroud said. 'Just being honest. I try to adapt. I try my best one more time, but I can't do something I'm not used to (doing) and I don't know how to do.'
Thursdays
Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.
Cherundolo favors a transition game emphasizing counterattacks and play up the sides, which doesn't mesh with Giroud's 38-year-old pace up the middle. In a scenario familiar across MLS, LAFC struggled to find a playmaker capable of providing service to an elite goal-scorer like Giroud, who excels on crosses in the box.
Giroud was relegated to a substitute role in most matches despite wearing the No. 9 shirt, and he made a major impact in only a handful of outings — most memorably his goal in LAFC's victory in the U.S. Open Cup final last year.
'We did not use the cross a lot, which is my main strength in the box,' Giroud said. 'And yeah, I had the feeling that we would play a lot in transition, so it's not the best for me. … I know what I can bring to the team, but I know what I can't do also. I think it's time to say goodbye now, and one more time to wish all the best to the boys because I love them. I will miss LA, but on the other hand, I'm really excited to have another challenge.'
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
36 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Wimbledon brings out David Beckham, Maria Sharapova and other stars on Day 1
LONDON (AP) — David Beckham and Maria Sharapova were among the stars of sports and screen at Wimbledon on Monday for the start of the tournament. Sharapova, the 2004 champion at the All England Club at age 17, posted a selfie with Beckham on Instagram with the caption: 'Let the (Wimbledon) games begin' with an emoji of a tennis balls. Sharapova will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame later this year. Former England soccer captain Beckham was on the list of guests expected to attend Centre Court matches on Day 1. Others included Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne and former England soccer coach Gareth Southgate. Beckham is the only player to score for England at three World Cups. He is the co-owner of American club Inter Miami, which is led by Lionel Messi and was eliminated Sunday from the Club World Cup in the United States with a 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. ___ AP tennis:
Winnipeg Free Press
36 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tour de France: What to know about this year's showcase cycling race
PARIS (AP) — Tadej Pogačar will look to add to his place in cycling history with a fourth Tour de France title. The 26-year-old Slovenian rider last year became the first cyclist to secure the Giro d'Italia and Tour double in the same season since the late Marco Pantani in 1998. His main rival will be Jonas Vingegaard, the Dane who has won the Tour de France and wants to challenge for the victory again after coming up short last year. Here's a look at what you need to know about the race: When does it start? Tour riders take to their saddles on July 5 and pedal off in the northern French city of Lille for the first of 21 stages and 3,339 kilometers (2,070 miles) of intense riding. When is the last stage? The final stage is on July 27 and sees a break from the traditional parade-like finish as riders tackle narrow cobbled streets as they climb Montmartre Hill three times. It adds suspense to what is usually a low-key last day but has prompted questions over security with massive crowds expected, just like during last year's Olympics. Who is the favorite? It will be tough to prevent another Pogačar win, even more so after he warmed up for the race with a dominant victory at the Critérium du Dauphiné last month, continuing his excellent form during the spring classics. Pogačar was at his brilliant best in the Tour's grueling mountain climbs last year. But if Vingegaard is back to his best form, the 28-year-old Danish rider remains a major threat, providing his Visma-Lease a Bike team can match Pogačar's supremely-efficient UAE Team Emirates lineup in the toughest mountain stages. Any other contenders? Slovenian veteran Primož Roglič narrowly lost the 2020 tour to Pogačar, but the four-time Spanish Vuelta winner could yet prove to be a dangerous outsider. Double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel is one of only three riders who have been able to get on the back of Pogačar's wheel this year when he has launched a trademark uphill attack. He seems to have fully recovered from multiple injuries sustained in a big crash last year, but may not have enough in the tank to hang with Pogačar over three weeks. Pogačar's teammate João Almeida has what it takes to be a leader in any other team and could take the mantle from his Slovenian leader if he has a problem. American cyclist Matteo Jorgenson and Giro d'Italia winner Simon Yates are both on Vingegaard's team and could take over as the No. 1 should he falter. The 25-year-old Jorgenson defended his Paris-Nice title this year and is regarded as a future Grand Tour winner. How many riders start and how many finish? A total of 184 riders representing 23 teams will line up for the start on July 5. Withdrawals are commonplace: some due to injury, others due to fatigue or an inability to cope with mountain stages. A total of 141 riders finished last year's race from 176 entrants. What is the format? The race features 21 stages: seven flat, six hilly and six in the mountains — with with five mountain finishes at Hautacam, Luchon-Superbagnères, Mont Ventoux, Courchevel Col de la Loze and La Plagne Tarentaise — and two time trials. At 2,304 meters, the Col de la Loze is the highest point of the Tour. For the first time since 2020, the race won't be visiting any foreign country. Time bonuses will be awarded at the finish of each stage, with 10, 6 and 4 seconds awarded to the first, second and third riders, respectively. Previous champions Before Pogačar and Vingegaard took over as the dominant riders, there were one-off wins for Colombian Egan Bernal in 2019 and British rider Geraint Thomas the year before for once-dominant Team Sky, which also secured wins with British riders Chris Froome — in 2013, '15, '16 and '17 — and Bradely Wiggins in 2012. Italian downhill ace Vincenzo Nibali won in 2014. How to watch on TV — In France: France Télévisions and Eurosport have comprehensive daily coverage of the race. — U.S. viewers can follow the race via NBC and Peacock. Do fans get in the way of riders? Fans can sometimes get perilously close to the riders, occasionally leading to falls. Others jump out in front of riders during mountain climbs or sprint behind them, shouting and often waving flags. While it seems chaotic and dangerous, the unwritten rule never to touch a rider is generally well obeyed. Why are there so many team cars? Each team has its sporting director following behind, passing messages over team radio and occasionally moving up the road to reach a stricken rider. This often causes chaotic congestion, particularly in mountain passes, and can slow down the time it takes to reach a rider. ___ AP sports:
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Veteran Czech defender Pavel Kaderabek returns to Sparta Prague after 10 years at Hoffenheim
PRAGUE (AP) — Veteran defender Pavel Kaderabek is returning to Sparta Prague after 10 years with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, the Czech club said on Monday. Sparta did not give details about his contract. The 33-year-old right back, who can also play in the midfield, came back to his old club after his deal with Hoffenheim expired. Kaderabek moved from Sparta to Hoffenheim in 2015 and played a total of 287 games in all competitions for the German club. In 2022, he retired from the Czech national team due to health reasons after playing 48 internationals. His signing comes less than a month after Danish coach Brian Priske agreed to return to Sparta on a multiple-year contract after a stint at Feyenoord. ___ AP soccer:
