Chelsea triggered a one-year contract extension for striker Olivier Giroud in the summer, keeping the 33-year-old at the club until the summer of 2021.
The news might have come as a surprise to some Chelsea fans given that the Frenchman was often sidelined by Frank Lampard last season while Tammy Abraham was preferred for the manager’s attacking football.
However, Giroud enjoyed an unexpected run in Lampard’s team just before the Premier League was suspended.
The France international might have only scored two goals in those games, but he did more than enough to show Lampard why it is worth keeping him for another year. Here is why Giroud can still be a big player for Chelsea.
Giroud actually suits Lampard’s tactics
Lampard might not think Giroud is the right fit for Chelsea’s expansive attacking football, but it doesn’t make much sense to pack the forward line entirely with fast and direct players. In fact, this is precisely why the goals had dried up at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea play a narrow 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation in which the wingers are expected to cut inside and help one (or two) playmakers create chances for Abraham. Lampard emphasises free movement in the final third and quick vertical passing from midfield and defence into those forwards.
Perhaps Abraham’s speed and agility make him better suited to the high press aspect of the system, but in every other regard Giroud offers a good counterweight to all that pace and creative freedom.
The focus is too heavily on speed and directness, which has allowed opponents to sit deep and frustrate Chelsea’s young attackers, leading to stale football.
Chelsea are crying out for more structure, for someone to slow things down when necessary while providing a more powerful cutting edge in the box.
Giroud’s experience good for Abraham
Abraham perhaps suffered last season from knowing he was the guaranteed number one. The England international scored 12 goals in his first 21 games of the season but only four goals in the most recent 16.
That dip in form is to be expected from a young player, but it certainly would have helped if Abraham felt his place in the team was under threat. Giroud has done just that, and the Frenchman’s experience could prove to be hugely beneficial to the academy graduate.
Abraham and Giroud are polar opposites, suggesting the latter can mentor the former in parts of his game that need work. More importantly in the short term, when the tactical plan isn’t producing goals for one, it ought to for the other.
The value of tactical variety is yet to really sink in for Lampard. Perhaps Giroud’s surprise successes in February and March taught the Chelsea manager a valuable lesson.
Giroud can bring out best in Pulisic and Ziyech
Chelsea may have added big-name stars in the form of Kai Havertz and Timo Werner, but there is just as much excitement around Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech.
Both players like to cut inside and take on their man, favouring quick one-twos with team-mates to weave into the penalty box. Consequently Ziyech and Pulisic might prefer using Giroud as a wall instead of attempting to feed Abraham or Werner in behind.
There is little doubt Lampard has a wealth of attacking talent at his disposal this season, but Giroud should not be forgotten.
