Olivier Giroud has been branded as a fantastic presence within the Stamford Bridge ranks by Thomas Tuchel with the new Blues gaffer admitting it was down to him for Giroud’s limited involvement of late in the Chelsea colours.
The France international has largely been a sporadic starter for the Blues as Tuchel has opted for the Werner-Havertz-Ziyech combine in recent outings against Liverpool in domestic action and the win over Atletico Madrid in Champions League football.
Giroud was key to Chelsea’s hugely vital victory against Atletico in the first leg at Madrid with the former Arsenal man netting a spectacular acrobatic goal to give his side an all-important away goal.
However, with opportunities going bereft for the 34-year-old World Cup-winning forward, Tuchel has promised more game time for Giroud going forward and the weekend tie against Sheffield United in the FA Cup is one game where the Frenchman will get a rare chance to impress, according to the Chelsea manager.
“I think Oli can have a huge impact on our team because he has the experience, the physical presence and the ruthlessness in the box,” said Tuchel as quoted by Goal.
“This is his style of football and he has been very successful for many years.
“He has suffered in the last four games or so and I’m not sure I can be totally happy with my team management in the games against Southampton and Leeds. I felt that perhaps these were matches he could have featured for 20 or 25 minutes.
“So it’s my fault. He is training really well, he made a decisive goal against Atletico and I assumed the games against Everton and Liverpool would be high intensity games where we could use more speed.
“It is my job to push him and give him the feeling that he is still important and important for me, which he is. So the game on Sunday is important.
“The international break is good for Oli to keep his head in the clouds and enjoy this moment with us.”
