In a recent interview with Le Figaro (via the Metro), Chelsea centre-forward Olivier Giroud expressed his displeasure after losing his first-team place to Tammy Abraham. When asked whether he is content playing as the second-choice striker under Frank Lampard’s tutelage (via the Metro), the France international said,
‘Obviously not. I have goals in my head.
‘I’m here to help the next generation, but the time for retirement has not come.
‘I’m still hungry and have a lot of ambition. I don’t want to be Chelsea’s No.2 striker, for sure.
‘Just because I’m here as an older brother for the younger players, it doesn’t mean I’m out on the sidelines.’
Giroud’s Recent Frustrations At West London
It is clearly evident from Giroud’s words that he still reckons he can play in the Pensioners first XI week in week out. However, Abraham’s rich vein of form of late has seen the Frenchman get limited game time over the past few weeks.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner has only made four appearances for the West London outfit in this campaign and has scored one goal so far which came in the UEFA Super Cup loss versus Liverpool last month. Giroud has proven that he can register some crucial goals for his team when he is playing with confidence on the field.
However, Lampard’s preference to choose Abraham for a starting role will not please Giroud too much as he is currently in the twilight years of his playing career. Thus, the Frenchman is in dire need of regular first-team opportunities as he wants to make the most out of his time left as a player.
Giroud managed to emerge victorious in the UEFA Europa League last season when Chelsea beat Arsenal in the final away at Baku, Azerbaijan. He has also represented France in 91 international fixtures while netting 35 goals for them on all fronts. He can still be a productive asset due to his ability to score or create goals consistently at the top level. However, the 32-year-old has slowed down and lost a yard of pace in the final third over the past few campaigns.
Should Lampard Sanction Giroud’s Departure In January?
The France international will benefit from a change of scenery in January as he would be able to gain more first-team action away from West London. It seems like Lampard is willing to put faith in his younger stars so that he can build a strong team for the future. Hence, it is likely that Giroud’s situation might not change for the better, which won’t please the veteran goal-getter.
The former Arsenal frontman deserves to go out of the Premier League on his own terms. However, Chelsea’s transfer ban means that Lampard won’t be able to replace him when the transfer window reopens in January. Therefore, the Pensioners are better off keeping hold of Giroud at Stamford Bridge at least until the end of this campaign.
