Olivier Giroud still has a lot to offer

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Olivier Giroud showed that he is far from finished by netting all four of Chelsea’s goals against Sevilla in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Many believe that Giroud is past his best, but the 34-year-old proved his doubters wrong with a sublime performance in southern Spain.

The Frenchman scored a perfect hat-trick – right foot, left foot, header – before converting a penalty late on.

In fact, since Giroud signed for Chelsea in January 2018, he has scored the most European goals of any Premier League player (16).

With Timo Werner and Kai Havertz joining the Blues in the summer, Giroud has seen his game time limited this season.

Tammy Abraham was already favored by Frank Lampard, but the arrival of the German duo has seen Giroud fall further down pecking order.

The veteran striker is yet to start a Premier League games this term, making just five top-flight appearances from the bench.

However, he has netted one goal in two EFL Cup outings and now has five goals in three Champions League matches in 2020/21.

Following such a devastating display, it will be extremely difficult for Lampard to leave Giroud out of his next starting XI.

The Frenchman has waited patiently for his opportunities this season, but when he has been given a chance, he has never let the team down.

Let’s not forget that Giroud also has a phenomenal record at international level. He has bagged 44 goals in 105 appearances for France. That’s an average of just under a goal every other game!

He currently sits second on the list of all-time scorers for his country – three goals ahead of Michel Platini and seven goals behind Thierry Henry.

But if he wants to surpass Henry and break the record, he will surely have to be playing regular first-team football at club level.

If Giroud isn’t featuring on a regular basis for Chelsea, he may need to move elsewhere in order to be selected by French boss Didier Deschamps.There has been plenty of talk regarding Giroud’s feature, with many believing that he must leave Stamford Bridge to resurrect his career.

Whether he chooses to stay and fight for his place at Chelsea or opts for a move away in the upcoming January transfer window, there is no denying that Giroud is still a top player.