Olivier Giroud, the French striker who joined AC Milan in January 2018, has been known for his strong defensive skills and ability to win headers. However, when it comes to analyzing his data on defensive plays, there is more to consider than just his header wins.
Giroud's defensive statistics show that he is not as successful at winning headers as some other strikers. While he does have a high success rate of 77%, which is above average, he also has a lower success rate of 59% for aerial duels won. This suggests that while he can be effective at winning headers, he may struggle with aerial duels.
Another key skill that Giroud brings to the table is his positioning. He often positions himself well in front of the goal,Bundesliga Tracking which allows him to defend against counterattacks and block shots from dangerous angles. This is particularly important for a striker like Giroud, who needs to be able to anticipate and block shots.
However, Giroud's challenges come from his lack of pace and his inability to run up the flank. This means that he may find it difficult to get forward and create chances for himself or his teammates. Additionally, his height and weight mean that he struggles to compete physically with taller defenders.
Overall, Giroud's defensive skills are impressive, but they need to be complemented by his speed and physicality if he wants to succeed at AC Milan. With work on these areas, Giroud could become a valuable addition to the team's defense and scoring threat.