French striker Olivier Giroud and American winger Christian Pulisic have a major career issue in common- both are currently buried on the depth chart at Chelsea, despite being talented, well known players.
Both are upset about the lack of playing time they’re getting at Stamford Bridge too. For Giroud, it’s very hard to unseat young centre forward Tammy Abraham, the Premier League’s co-leader in scoring (with Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero). Michy Batshuayi is in the mix too. For Pulisic, well, there’s a host of player at a couple different positions.
Since moving over from arch-rivals Arsenal in the 2018 January transfer window, Giroud, 33, has only averaged of 35 minutes of playing time per appearance in Premier League play.
“I had competitors in attack – [Alvaro] Morata, [Gonzalo] Higuain, who ended up leaving,” Giroud said.
“I won at the end: I played the final of the FA Cup in 2018 and the [Europa League] final in 2019. Once again, I’m starting the year in a difficult situation. But as my brother says, I have always built myself in the face of adversity.”
Giroud was left out entirely of the last three match day squads for Chelsea and hasn’t played in any of the Blues last five league fixtures. On the season, he’s only featured thrice in league play, and just 43 times in total since he moved across London.
The Frenchman vows to keep a stiff upper lip and respect manager Frank Lampard’s decisions, even though he clearly does not believe he deserves to be cast in this lesser role. He says he’ll do what’s best for the team.
“You do not have to be fatalistic in certain situations. I have always been respectful and humble,” Giroud continued.
“Even if I do not agree with the coach, I do not criticize him, but in myself, I cannot accept it because I know what I’m worth on a pitch.”
Given both his age and where he’s at in his career, the time might be right for him to across the pond and join Major League Soccer. Many European stars have done that in recent years, found homes in MLS where they can be the most talented and well known player on the pitch.
The league could also use an infusion of star power as Bastian Schweinsteiger has retired and Wayne Rooney is moving on to a player-coaching role with Lampard’s former team, Derby County. This might be a perfect fit.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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