Olivier Giroud‘s mostly failed tenure with Los Angeles FC is marked by a considerable distance between expectations and reality, a disappointment to the club, its fanatics and, most of all, the French superstar himself.
The legendary striker, a World Cup winner and France’s all-time goals leader, bowed out with Sunday’s farewell performance in an MLS home defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps FC. He left these numbers in his wake: 34 games, 18 starts, a bit more than 1,500 minutes, and just five goals across all competitions over 10½ months.
The goals were supposed to flow, but for one problem: The classic No. 9, a Designated Player, never fit into LAFC’s mobile, wing-oriented, transition-heavy approach, and adjustments were untenable.
Giroud, who’s headed home to play for Europa League-bound Lille OSC, said as much in his farewell press conference following the 1-0 loss at BMO Stadium.
“If you know football, you understand that in one sense, I didn’t really fit to maybe the game style, I would say. Just being honest,” he said after exiting to a roaring ovation in the 60th minute. “I tried to adapt, I tried my best one more time. I can’t do something I’m not used to do, and I don’t know how to do it.
“We use a lot of the sides, the wings, the pace. We did not cross a lot, which is my main strength in a box. I had a feeling that we play a lot in transition, so it’s not the best for me, but I always try to give my best to the team.”
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