It is the story of a snub and almost an anachronism in the great world of business football.
Here is Chelsea, the most expensive club of the last summer transfer window completed in the fall - 250 million euros invested - which finally relies on the "old" Olivier Giroud, the only scorer this Tuesday, February 23, in Bucharest, in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League against Atlético de Madrid (0-1).
The Spanish club dominate La Liga and Thomas Tuchel's new team have signed a great performance.
The German coach had chosen to start the world champion in attack in his 3-4-2-1 which has become his standard since arriving in London on January 26 after his dismissal from PSG.
At the end of the day, a sensational acrobatic return from the international striker, a “Blue and Blues” bicycle.
🗣💬 "It's the kind of gesture that I love for those who know me… It's weird to celebrate 3 minutes later anyway"
🏆 Olivier Giroud tells about his sublime goal against Atlético pic.twitter.com/TAm5lrVu8y
- RMC Sport (@RMCsport) February 23, 2021
Fourth top scorer in European cups
He has just signed his sixth achievement in the Champions League, in just two starts and five games.
For three seasons, he has been the fourth top scorer in European competitions (C1 and C3), with 17 goals behind Robert Lewandowski, Leo Messi and Erling Haaland.
The Olivier Giroud machine still works just as well at 34 years old, even though the club of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich therefore spends 160 of its 250 million euros on two offensive recruits, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, two Germans including only one (the first) started the first leg against Madrid.
In the 87th minute, Giroud came out, replaced by the second.
"The two recruits are in difficulty," notes Jean-Luc Arribart, specialist in the Premier League on the channels of Canal +.
Normally, Giroud should come after, that's what was planned at the start of the season.
But his qualities always allow him to win regardless of the coaches, reinforcements and leaders at Chelsea.
"
"A huge surface player"
His qualities ?
No one finds them out.
But everyone sees them.
The former Montpellier is never injured and quite simply always well prepared.
With Tuchel, his status has hardly changed: six league games, 50% on the lawn, 50% on the bench.
But when the altitude rose, like Tuesday against the rough Atlético Madrid of Diego Simeone, Tuchel was not mistaken and immediately launched the top scorer in activity of the France team.
“He's a huge surface player, continues Arribart, with a big preference for centers at the near post.
He continues to fool his world in this area.
He has a very good head, always sits well within 16m50, makes perfect use of his back-to-back game with discounts and play in small spaces with his partners.
He is a fighter, never pretending to do the pressing.
He's the kind of player a coach has a hard time doing without.
"
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The unsinkable Olivier Giroud
He extinguished the debates on his participation in the Euro
So nobody does without.
Because he's banging all the time, basically.
His six Champions League goals come after seven shots on target.
He has the sights, we admire him.
“I like its movements, its efficiency, adds the Canal + consultant.
Yes, it is not the fastest, yes, it is not the most technical, but, when it comes time to take stock, it is still ahead of the others.
"
Eternal questioned - a challenge that allows him to last by drawing a form of motivation in the face of this "injustice" - he once again put an end to the debates on his participation in the Euro shifted to next summer.
Didier Deschamps, hyperimportant in his performances for the confidence maintained throughout the years of questions on the playing time of the center-forward, is counting on him.
Always in the shoes of a holder.
"It's not on the agenda, but I keep it in a corner of my head," Giroud replied Tuesday evening about the Euro.
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"The France team needs him because he scores and puts others in good conditions," concludes Arribart.
His presence benefits Griezmann and Mbappé.
“By bicycle or crampons, Olivier Giroud is not about to leave the paths of success.
