Forced off after 23 minutes against Everton
Olivier Giroud was off the pitch after just twenty-three minutes. The LOSC striker hurt his left knee in the Dogues’ final warm-up game against Everton, which finished level at 1-1. He limped off, looking grim.
The sight had everyone in the stadium on edge. With just a week to go before Ligue 1 kicks off again, seeing the captain leave like that was the last thing Lille needed. His knee twisted in the incident, causing immediate pain.
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Davide Ancelotti plays it down
Lille’s coach spoke after the match. “We were worried, but the news is reassuring. I don’t think it’s anything serious,” Davide Ancelotti told reporters.
The boss believes his striker could be back in training within days. That would put Giroud in line to be in the squad for the trip to Angers, scheduled for Sunday, 23 August at 15:00. Tests are still needed to pin down the exact problem before anything is decided for good.
A captain Lille cannot afford to lose
At 39, Giroud remains the reference point in the Lille dressing room. His value as captain goes far beyond the numbers. He leads the attack, pins back defenders, and acts as the link between the staff and a younger squad.
Losing their main striker before the opening match would have hit Davide Ancelotti hard. LOSC now waits for the test results. The verdict should come in the next few days.
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