MLS awaits Olivier Giroud with high expectations: when will he play for LAFC?

The Frenchman is the latest big name star to come from Europe to MLS, with his LAFC debut hotly anticipated.

Karina Poncekariale_7Update: May 27th, 2024 05:31 EDT0

MARCO BERTORELLOAFP

Ex-Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is set to leave Europe and join LAFC in MLS.

The French striker will join the Black & Gold in the summer of 2025, after ending his career in the elite of European soccer. The former AC Milan striker will join Denis Bouanga in attack to set LAFC up as one of the most dangerous and competitive teams in the Western Conference.

LAFC already know what it it like to be MLS champions, a trophy they obtained in 2022; they also have two Supporters’ Shields won in the 18/19 and 21/22 seasons. However, the challenge for titles in the last seasons has become somewhat complicated.

🗣️ "Let's go Black & Gold"First look at Olivier Giroud in ⚫️🟡 pic.twitter.com/Yd7I2sWBKh

— LAFC (@LAFC) May 14, 2024

LAFC’s hat-trick of lost finals

In the previous campaign, they were eliminated in the round of 16 of the US Open Cup at the hands of their fierce rivals: LA Galaxy, missing out on the opportunity to add a new trophy to their cabinet. In the Leagues Cup during the same season, they lost in the quarterfinals to Monterrey.

The hardest hits for the team came with the three lost finals in the same season. The LA side reached the final of the Campeones Cup and lost to Tigres de la UANL on penalties. Similarly, in the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, they suffered a 1-3 aggregate defeat to León. The most painful loss came when they lost the MLS Cup to Columbus Crew by a score of 2-1.

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Giroud was given a hero’s send-off in his last game for AC Milan.MARCO BERTORELLOAFP

Cherundolo to make changes in his tactical setup

Such results have forced the club to drastically halt the situation and to achieve this they are counting on the presence of Giroud, who they hope will make the difference. Taylor Twellman, a former soccer player and one of the top scorers in MLS who now serves as a commentator, spoke about the high expectations with which the league and especially LAFC awaits the Frenchman.

Twellman assured that Olivier Giroud will allow Cherundolo to make changes in his tactical setup, playing his top-level striker, Denis Bouanga, a little further back to give him freedom in the creation of play on the inside and thus a fixed number nine: “They want to win trophies, for all the finals they reached last season without winning anything,” said the former player.

🇫🇷👋 Olivier Giroud’s final goal in European club football. He will now continue his journey in MLS with LAFC. 🇺🇲🔜 pic.twitter.com/Ksz3HwdWc6

— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) May 26, 2024