Ex-Manchester United striker Louis Saha has backed fellow Frenchman Olivier Giroud to reclaim his spot in Frank Lampard’s starting XI for Chelsea FC next season despite the new arrival of Timo Werner this summer.
The 33-year old Giroud was relegated to the second-choice striking option at Lampard’s disposal ahead of the upcoming 2020-21 season for the Blues. Timo Werner’s big-money signing from RB Leipzig last month meant that the German international would no doubt serve as the leader of the Blues’ attack in the coming years.
However, Saha, a former French international himself, believes that Giroud will be motivated by Werner’s arrival at Stamford Bridge. Saha added that the ex-Arsenal forward’s competitiveness would allow him to challenge Chelsea FC’s latest signing for a first-team spot at the club.
“Giroud wants to score and he wants to help his teammates. He is a competitor and wherever he is, he will always perform.
“Giroud is very motivated and I’m sure that next year we will hear about him again.”
The World Cup-winning striker was a standout performer for Frank Lampard’s side post the lockdown period last season. Saha further termed the 33-year old as underrated whose contributions for his side are often overlooked by many.
“I think he is very underrated,”
“He was criticized when he arrived at Arsenal because people would compare him to stylish players like Thierry Henry or Dennis Bergkamp, but he’s a different player and he scores goals for every club he plays for.”
Giroud was very prolific in front of the goal for Chelsea FC across their 2019-20 league campaign and despite losing his place to youngster Tammy Abraham at the start of the season, the Frenchman managed to displace the 22-year old in the Blues’ starting XI.
