LAFC head coach Steven Cherundolo announced that Olivier Giroud will make his debut for the team in the upcoming Leagues Cup match against the San Jose Earthquakes at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday night. Giroud, who joined LAFC on a free transfer in April, officially became part of the team on August 1 after his participation in the European Championship with France.
Cherundolo confirmed Giroud's availability for the match during a pre-game news conference. The French forward is expected to bring his experience and leadership to the team after a successful season with AC Milan, where he scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in 35 regular-season matches.
Giroud's former France teammate, Hugo Lloris, expressed confidence in Giroud's ability to make an immediate impact on the team and aid in its development. Lloris highlighted Giroud's winning mentality and predicted that he would be a valuable addition to the young LAFC squad.
Having spent 18 years in top professional leagues such as Ligue 1, the Premier League, and Serie A, Giroud brings a wealth of experience to LAFC. The striker, who has scored 285 goals in 716 club matches, revealed that he had been approached by the LA Galaxy in 2021 but opted to join AC Milan instead before eventually signing with LAFC.
During his introductory news conference, Giroud expressed his belief that joining LAFC was destiny and emphasized his excitement to be part of the team. Now, Giroud and LAFC will aim to secure a victory against the Earthquakes in the round of 16 match to progress to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
