Olivier Giroud: How to create and conquer . How to do?

Training Strikers Arsenal Olivier  Giroud Heading Strength. 

 

Olivier Giroud: How to create and conquer

From converting crosses with your head to holding up the ball for your team-mates, allow Arsenal’s 6ft 4in French striker to guide you through the golden rules for leading the line. 

Protect with your body

“Physical strength is very important. Figure out whether or not you have somebody behind you and get your body in the right position to hold off the defender and control the ball. The more you practise this the better you’ll get to know how to play using your body. However, your control of the ball is the most important thing. With a good touch you can slow the game down. Don’t ignore the hard work you need to do in front of goal as well. The more shots you take, the more goals you will score.”

Shield the ball to keep defenders at bay

 

Timing is everything

“Winning headers is not about pushing the opponent out of the way; it’s all about getting your timing right when you jump. Before the ball comes to you, know where you are positionally, know where the defender is and most importantly know where your team-mates are, so you can divert the ball towards them. I’m a goalscorer, but I’m a creator as well, and I like that part of the game. I’m an unselfish forward. Playing this way worked well at Montpellier when I had Younes Belhanda alongside me.”

Introduced tiki taka

 

“Grassroots football is not competitive football but football training”

This fundamental premise should be taken into account for the technical and tactical work during the di erent stages of training. The results and ratings are consequences of the work carried out and we must instil this into our youngsters in grassroots football. We must not forget the principal training objectives to train people to play football at any level, respect the values of the sport, the game and the opposition and above all enjoy the practice more than the result.

Formative football always triggers debates. Youth teams are criticised because they do not all become rst team players. One of the problems could be the lack of continuity and progression in the groundwork and the lack of adaptation of football development to the ability of the child.

“Slow and steady wins the race. There is no need to rush the training”

Footballers are born, but have to work extremely hard to reach the highest level. We must not rush the formative stages to reach an imaginary destination. Competitive excellence comes when you reach the “senior” stage, and although there, you still need to carry on training as you can never stop learning, progressing and improving. Continuity is the cornerstone of grassroots football.

“The secret to success in football is in the training”

Phrases such as, “the more I train, the more luck I have” (Luis Aragonés), serve as a guide to the way forward. You must train often and well in order to progress. This training should address the essentials of the game which is to adapt e ectively and act at the opportune moment. As such, training should be based on both technical and tactical work without the need for separation as technique and tactics never manifest themselves separately during a game.