AC Milan win Scudetto: Heroic Giroud proves Chelsea wrong

Carlo Garganese

• 22 May 2022 18:55 BST
• 3 min read

AC Milan have done it! After 11 long, painful years they have finally won the Scudetto again.

The Rossoneri only needed a draw on the final day of the season at Sassuolo to topple rivals Inter of their Scudetto crown, but blew their opponents away with a first-half blitz to win 3-0.

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There was no doubt who the hero on the day was; veteran French striker Olivier Giroud.

Giroud twice finished clinically from Rafael Leao assists in the 17th and 32nd minute to put Milan into an unassailable 2-0 lead.

It was not the first time this season that he has delivered big goals on the big occasion.

Indeed, back in February, last year’s champions Inter were cruising to the Scudetto. They were four points clear of the Rossoneri and comfortably leading the Milan derby 1-0 going into the closing stages.

Milan had barely threatened throughout until Giroud struck twice in three minutes in the 76th and 78th minutes to steal a 2-1 win.

That result completely changed the course of the Scudetto race.

But Giroud would score two more priceless strikes in the Scudetto run-in. He scored the only goal of the game at the Stadio Diego Maradona in March to defeat a Napoli side who themselves were well in the race for the title at that point.

And then, at the end of April, Milan were at risk of slipping up as they trailed 1-0 at Lazio. Giroud’s equaliser early in the second half paved the way for another comeback victory.

Giroud finishes the season with a modest 11 Serie A strikes but it was the importance of his goals that have made him such a brilliant signing.

The 35-year-old was allowed to depart Chelsea for Milan last summer for virtually nothing, just a €500,000 bonus fee.

Chelsea let him and Tammy Abraham (who has been equally impressive in Serie A with Roma) leave because they considered them both surplus to requirements.

Both Giroud and Abraham have proved Chelsea wrong. The man who came into replace the pair, Romelu Lukaku, has proved to be one of the flops of the Premier League season. He also came at a €115 million cost from Inter.

Chelsea have endured a trophyless season, while Giroud is now going to be celebrating long into the night in Milan.