Giroud: “Lampard convinced me to stay”

Olivier Giroud was on the verge of a Chelsea exit. However, a meeting with his boss was all he needed for a change of heart.

The Frenchman signed a one-year contract extension recently after being linked with a move away severally.

Speaking to the club’s official website, the ex-Arsenal man said: “I was supposed to leave in the January transfer window because I wasn’t playing much and I needed more game time to make the France squad for Euro 2020.

“I very nearly left the club but I really think that God wanted me to stay at Chelsea. The manager told me that he couldn’t let me leave because he didn’t have anyone to replace me.

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“Everyone knows what happened so I won’t go back over it but the coach spoke to me privately and told me that he’d give more games.

“He kept his word and what then mattered to me was proving to him that he could count on me when I was called upon.”

With Tammy Abraham’s injury came Giroud’s best opportunity to repay his manager’s faith. To the delight of his manager, he was able to do that superbly.

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His good form started with a wonderful cameo against United where he had a goal agonizingly ruled out for offside. This was rewarded with five consecutive starts in three different competitions.

In that time, Giroud scored against Spurs and more recently; Everton. His characteristic wonderful hold-up play was evident throughout that time.

After securing an additional year at Stamford Bridge, he would surely be looking to add to his FA Cup and Europa League honours.

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