Olivier Giroud may not be every Chelsea fan’s idea of the quintessential striker but he sure is effective at what he does.
Under Maurizio Sarri this season, the Frenchman has had to make do with a bit-part role and although his contract expires in June, Chelsea are keen to retain his services.
3
Chelsea are more effective when Giroud plays
First, he alternated for a starting berth with Alvaro Morata and, since January, he has had to play second-fiddle to Gonzalo Higuain.
Even Eden Hazard, a midfielder, has been preferred in the striking role ahead of the former Arsenal man.
LATEST PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS
However, he was recalled to the starting XI for the match against Brighton at Stamford Bridge and opened the scoring minutes before half-time.
It was only his second Premier League goal of the season, his first coming against Tottenham back in November and recent figures back up his claims for a more regular role in the team.
According to reddit.com, Chelsea have found the net more often per minute when he has featured.
3
Giroud scored just his second Premier League goal of the season against Brighton
The World Cup winner has played 789 minutes of football in the top-flight this season and Chelsea have scored 23 times, making it a goal every 34.3 minutes.
In that time, he has played 90 minutes just twice and started just seven league games.
But, without him, the Blues have hit the back of the net 31 times in 2091 minutes, which equates to a goal every 67.4 minutes, numbers which suggest Chelsea are actually better when he is playing.
It’s not too surprising either. Giroud has carved out a reputation as being more than just goals.
His failure to score last summer at the World Cup in Russia did little to hamper France, with his physical presence and link-up play considered key factors in helping them to win the tournament for a second time.
International boss Didier Deschamps knows he needs the forward to facilitate the performances of Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe.
3
Giroud assisted two of Hazard’s three goals against Cardiff
Back in September, Giroud had one of his best games in a Chelsea shirt and while he did not get on the score-sheet that day against Cardiff, he did assist two for Hazard, who netted a hat-trick in a 4-1 win and the Belgian praised his team-mate.
“Olivier’s a target man, maybe the best in the world; I think so,†said Hazard.
“When he gets the ball he can hold the ball and we can go in deep with him, so for us it’s a pleasure to play with him.
Maybe Sarri doesn’t quite think so right now but we’d suggest he may be the right man to get the Blues a top four spot thanks to his all-round displays.
Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says United can score away at Barcelona and that would be a "greater achievement" than the win in Paris. "We're playing against a great team.
Manchester United transfer news: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reveals
Manchester United and Real Madrid ready to let Gareth Bale and Alexis Sanchez leave on FREE transfers - reports The forwards are both earning such exorbitant sums it seems their clubs would do
Gareth Bale transfer: 5 clubs he could leave Real Madrid for
England star a weak link we can exploit, insists Czech Republic's Matej Vydra. Burnley striker Vydra promises his Czech side have a plan to beat hosts England in Friday's opening Euro 2020 qualifier
England fans love Harry Maguire's thinly-veiled dig at Matej
Mar 24, 2019 · Tottenham Hotspur's new stadium may well be the best in the world. That's the verdict from talkSPORT's Ian 'The Moose' Abrahams after he attended the first Test event at the north London
Live Streaming und TV-Angebot, Live-Ergebnisse
Remembering all six of Roy Hodgson's Liverpool signings - and two he can't be blamed for. A look back at the six players Roy Hodgson signed during his ill-fated spell as Liverpool manager
Roy Hodgson denies claims of £7.3m Liverpool pay-off - Mirror
It's reported both Rangers and Celtic could be fined after Sunday's Old Firm game, with Scott Brown also facing potential disciplinary action.. The Hoops took a 2-1 victory at Celtic Park to move 13 points clear at the top of the Premiership, but the game featured a number of flashpoints.
Celtic and Rangers slapped with SFA fines over derby rammy
Aggressive Ralph Hasenhuttl won't make this easy for Liverpool the Austrian has transformed the way Southampton play. Ralph Hasenhuttl is known as the 'Klopp of the Alps' and now faces the real
Ralph Hasenhuttl: 'Nobody giving up in relegation fight
Jan Vertonghen: Brain injury charity calls for temporary concussion substitutions after incident involving Tottenham defender A brain injury charity has called for football to introduce 'temporary concussion substitutions' after an incident involving Jan Vertonghen during talkSPORT 4 hours ago
Brain injury charity calls for "concussion subs" after
Wolves vs Newcastle: How to listen. Full commentary of Wolves vs Newcastle will be live on talkSPORT, with our coverage beginning at 7pm. Mark Saggers will bring you all the build up with Jim Proudfoot and Ray Houghton on commentary duty. Click below or here for the live commentary stream.
Southampton vs Wolves live on talkSPORT 2: Full
Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Gunners make official bid, Unai Emery talks to Man Utd target ARSENAL news and gossip is coming thick and fast. Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the very
Unai Emery urges Arsenal board to sign Thomas Meunier despite
May 14, 2019 · Wolves have announced a plan to become the first club in the UK to install rail seats in an entire stand at their ground. The seats will be fitted in Molineux's Sir Jack Hayward Stand, making it
Wolves set to install rail seats on entire Sir Jack Hayward
Transfer news LIVE: Pogba to LEAVE Man Utd, Arsenal agreement, Liverpool, Chelsea gossip TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - Updates as Paul Pogba tells his Manchester United team-mates he's leaving and there
Transfer news LIVE: Sancho to Man Utd, Pogba to Real Madrid
0 comments:
Post a Comment