Les Rennais visent désormais la Ligue Europa. Giroud also powered Chelsea to Europa League glory in 2018-19 -- the club's first continental silverware in six years -- finishing the season as top goal scorer in the competition. Giroud shouting "Thank you Arsenal!" Look after it, Oli! He was then offloaded by the Gunners to cross-city rivals Chelsea in January 2018 to make way for marquee signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Olivier Giroud was delighted to help Chelsea take a step closer to reaching the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2014. The 34 … He may have been the oldest player on the pitch, but Olivier Giroud lit up the Champions League on Tuesday with his stunning overhead kick that gave Chelsea a crucial 1-0 win at Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie. "It's worrying. Giroud needs just two more goals to equal the Blues' record Champions League tally of eight goals in a single season, which is currently shared … How Olivier Giroud became Chelsea’s ultimate ‘European’ striker. Giroud needs just two more goals to equal the Blues' record Champions League tally of eight goals in a single season, which is currently shared by Drogba (2007-08) and Tore Andre Flo (1999-00). Just over two months since his 34th birthday, the France international put his name into the history books as he hit top gear for the Blues after being given a rare start by Frank Lampard. Champions League: Chelsea's Giroud ruins the Atletico rope-a-dope. Giroud's goal in the 68th minute was only the third Atletico have conceded in 14 home legs of the Champions League knockout stages under Simeone, even if this fixture was at home only in name. during Chelsea's Europa League celebrations pic.twitter.com/2TtuT7hLCF. That's a very happy @_OlivierGiroud_! A historic hat-trick was then wrapped up in the 75th minute as he got on the end of a cross from N'Golo Kante. Giroud has never really been a consistent first-choice striker since making the move to Stamford Bridge from Arsenal, but has proven time and again he can still be relied upon when selected. 100 caps for France, chasing Henry's record, ESPN+ viewer's guide: Bundesliga, Serie A, MLS, FA Cup and more, Tuchel, Giroud 8/10 as Chelsea win tightly-contested away leg vs. Atletico, Ozil's 'digital clothing range' includes golden soccer kit and boots, 'Backstreet Moyes!' Neymar scored early and late at Old Trafford as Paris Saint-Germain won 3-1 in the latest bout of a fierce Champions League rivalry to take control of its destiny in Group H. Ahead of the 2005–06 season, he was promoted to the club's reserve team, which was playing in the Championnat d… The away goal sets the Blues up nicely ahead of the second leg, and Giroud just continues to deliver. Lingard's musical goal celebration explained, Giroud gleefully took the opportunity to "thank" his ex-employers while holding the Europa League trophy aloft. Giroud quadruple makes Champions League history for Chelsea. Giroud is now just the second Frenchman to score two Champions League hat-tricks, with only Real Madrid's Karim Benzema the other player to do so. Advertisement. Giroud (34 years and 146 days) became the oldest player to score a Champions League knockout goal for Chelsea. Premier League after Super League collapse: Big Six facing legal issues? Arsenal's lacklustre loss shows why anti-Kroenke sentiment runs deep, Super League collapses: How fan revolt ended English clubs' breakaway, Champions League Swiss Model revamp: All you need to know. Olivier Giroud put Chelsea closer to Champions League qualification by sealing a 1-0 victory over relegated Norwich on Tuesday. Giroud has scored six Champions League goals this season – all away from home. While he was a central part of the Montpellier team that clinched a historic Ligue 1 championship on the very last day of the 2011-12 season, Giroud has never won a Premier League title. He later admitted that signing his first contract was an important part in his development as a player, stating "It took me signing my first professional contract to become aware of my abilities. • Giroud last scored in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage on 17 March 2015, in Arsenal's 2-0 away win in the second leg of their round of 16 tie against Monaco. The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but a lengthy 2:48 VAR check eventually concluded that the ball had come off Atletico defender Mario Hermoso in the build-up, thus allowing Giroud's goal to stand. Super League fallout: UEFA, Champions League reform again? Lampard was the last player to score four goals in a single game for Chelsea with the Blues current manager achieving that feat back in March 2010 against Aston Villa. Is Giroud underrated & underappreciated at Chelsea? I thought I still had a role to play at Chelsea but my playing time is getting reduced a lot. Olivier Giroud put on a four-goal masterclass. Giroud, who was substituted after scoring his fourth goal against Sevilla, has struggled for regular game time at Stamford Bridge this season and recently hinted a move away in January could be on the cards. Josh McNally Share . Olivier Giroud 's stunning overhead kick gave Chelsea a slender 1-0 advantage in their Champions League last-16 tie with Atletico Madrid. It's going to have to change or a decision must be made," Giroud told Telefoot last month. He is also the first Chelsea player to have scored six goals in a single Champions League campaign since Didier Drogba achieved the same back in 2011-12 -- his sixth coming in the final against Bayern Munich. He is a guy who has a good mixture of serious and joy in training. "He trains like a 20-year-old, like a 24-year-old. Still a regular fixture in the France national team, Giroud has also scored five goals in his last seven caps (including three goals in five appearances for Les Bleus in the UEFA Nations League), firmly proving he can still mix it on the international stage. D'un magnifique retourné acrobatique, Olivier Giroud a inscrit l'unique but du huitième de finale aller de Ligue des champions entre l'Atlético et Chelsea (0-1), mardi. Olivier Giroud's brilliant overhead kick earned Chelsea a precious 1-0 win 'away' to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie in Bucharest. Olivier Giroud | Chelsea | UEFA Champions League | UEFA.com But, with his Chelsea contract due to expire at the end of the season, can the Blues afford to make the same decision Arsenal did three years ago and write him off? Chelsea reached the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday with two matches to spare after a late Olivier Giroud strike gave the Blues a 2-1 win over Rennes. #ATMCHE pic.twitter.com/RlNQ4FXB4s, "If you see him on a daily basis, you cannot be surprised. He's also France's second highest goal scorer of all-time with 44 goals in 105 appearances, above the likes of Michel Platini, David Trezeguet and Zinedine Zidane, and just seven goals behind Thierry Henry at the top of the list (51 goals in 123 games). Giroud has certainly given his current and potential future employers food for thought. Champions League: Why Olivier Giroud should start for Chelsea against Porto in the quarter-final Six of Olivier Giroud’s 11 goals this season have come in the Champions League. - Giroud exclusive: 100 caps for France, chasing Henry's record Neymar got the goals that mattered most to leave Manchester United facing a possible Champions League exit. Giroud is now just the second Frenchman to score two Champions League hat-tricks, with only Real Madrid's Karim Benzema the other player to do so. The Frenchman is, after all, a World Cup winner with Les Bleus (2018) as well as a four-time FA Cup winner (with Arsenal in 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2016-17, then again with Chelsea in 2017-18 before reaching the final once more in 2018-19 only to lose to Manchester United. Olivier Giroud scored the late winner for the Blues in injury time. I hope to make the right one, as I have always done.". He is always positive and it is a big factor for the group. First look as star becomes game's first playable athlete, Liverpool's Salah 7/10, Alisson 8/10 but familiar lapses lead to dropped points vs. Newcastle, Chelsea fight hard to win at West Ham, showing how Premier League tension beats Super League inertia, La Liga's Super League fight: How Spain reacted to Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico split. Chelsea reached the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday with two matches to spare after a late Olivier Giroud … Transfer dominoes: How could one big move impact the window? O livier Giroud is 6ft 4in tall, weighs 14½ stone and is 34 years old. As his acrobatic efforts against Palace and Atletico Madrid duly attest, he's no stranger to the sublime, having made a habit of stunning the world with his spontaneous finishes and important goals in big games. Since the start of last season, Giroud has scored 21 goals and notched in crunch clashes against Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. The 34-year-old rolled back the years to score past Jan Oblak, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, with his spontaneous acrobatic effort that gives his side a precious away goal. Given his impressive numbers, his trophy haul, the vast treasure trove of wonder goals, the silky touches, the powerful link-up play, AND the raft of managers queuing up to sing his praises, it's perhaps puzzling that Giroud continues to be perennially underrated and unappreciated by fans. Only three players scored more goals than the Frenchman in European competitions since 2018/19: Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi and Erling Braut Haaland. (0:54), Giroud overhead kick proves that at 34, he's as good as ever, Winning Carabao Cup takes Man City one step closer to Treble, Stymied at Leeds, Man United need spark to become title contenders, Henry hails 'historic' week for fight against racism, La Liga title race chaos as Atleti drop more points, Pep: City now focused on 'most important' title, Griezmann double hands Barca comeback win, Irish PM: UEFA spectator demands 'out of order', Ceferin: Super League 12 'will be punished', Leeds CEO on ESL teams: 'Playground bullies', LIVE Transfer Talk: Manchester United focus to Sevilla defender Kounde, Neymar joins Fortnite! He is totally fit, his body is in shape and his physicality is on top level," Tuchel told reporters after the game. Some players and managers in the game aren't afraid to be cynical or dirty in their tactics - and then there's Simeone, who has dedicated his entire life to the dark arts of football. Un but d'Olivier Giroud dans le temps additionnel a eu raison de l'aventure en Ligue des Champions de Rennes. Chelsea forward Olivier Giroud has become the oldest player to score a Champions League hat-trick on a record breaking night, after scoring all four of his side's goals in their win over Sevilla on Wednesday. Indeed, Tuchel was suitably impressed with Giroud's Man-of-the-Match performance against Atletico, praising the veteran centre-forward for his enduring quality and youthful approach. While not famed for being particularly prolific, the France international has quietly amassed a very respectable goal tally over the years, having scored 105 goals in 253 appearances for Arsenal (that's a goal every 2.4 games). Chelsea's big win against Sevilla has secured them top spot in Group E with one game to play with Lampard's side dropping just two points in the competition to date. Giroud's goal in the 68th minute was only the third Atletico have conceded in 14 home legs of the Champions League knockout stages under Simeone, even if this fixture was at home only in name. Giroud on Chelsea's approach "We came here with strong intentions to win the game, play our game and we know how we could give them trouble offensively," he told BT Sport. Giroud needs just two more goals to equal the Blues' record Champions League tally of eight goals in a single season, which is currently shared by Drogba (2007-08) and Tore Andre Flo (1999-00). Thomas Tuchel has confirmed Olivier Giroud is in contention to start for Chelsea against FC Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday night. However, that doesn't mean that his trophy cabinet is bare -- far from it, in fact. Of course, we're also talking about a Puskas Award winner here, with Giroud's remarkable backheeled volley against Crystal Palace in 2017 adjudged to be the most beautiful goal scored in the entire world that year. Giroud gleefully took the opportunity to "thank" his ex-employers while holding the Europa League trophy aloft on the team bus afterwards. Ref's take: Why Giroud's Champions League goal for Chelsea and Atalanta-Real Madrid red were the right calls Let's break down the 'controversial' Champions League refereeing decisions from the … The striker's 11th goal of the run came against Arsenal in the final, opening the scoring against his former club as the Blues steamrollered to an emphatic 4-1 win over their Premier League cohorts out in Baku. While Giroud is the oldest to score a hat-trick in the Champions League, Ferenc Puskas did score three goals in the European Cup aged 38 years and 173 days in 1965. Copied. "I am clear-headed about my situation: I will have to make a decision in January. We simply cannot get pumped for a game against Crystal Palace without watching THIS amazing moment on loop... again and again and againThank you, Olivier Giroud #CRYARS pic.twitter.com/lvpjW0RFK9. Giroud's first goal came after just eight minutes following some incisive build-up play from Kai Havertz. Odd it took the VAR so long to allow Olivier Giroud's goal for Chelsea.- When the cross comes in Giroud, who is clearly onside, is the first player to play the ball- It's then obviously played by Mario Hermoso to Giroud, and not by any Chelsea player- No possible offside pic.twitter.com/ZrL3zq4OoQ. UEFA.com works better on other browsers For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome , Firefox or Microsoft Edge . Not done there, Giroud bagged his fourth goal of the night in the 84th minute after winning and converting a penalty. Chelsea have secured top spot in a Champions League group stage for the first time since 2015-16, winning four games in … Giroud's second then came via a chip in the 55th minute after Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic created a chance for their forward. He has come into his own as a Champions League specialist this season, having scored six goals in five appearances in the competition so far -- the first being a crucial stoppage-time winner against Rennes, followed by an impressive four-goal glut against Sevilla in the group stage. As such, the Blues remain unbeaten under Thomas Tuchel after the German coach's first eight games in charge, having outscored their opponents 10-2 in those matches. Olivier Giroud. The FC panel assess Olivier Giroud's value for club and country after his overhead winner vs. Atletico Madrid. Olivier Giroud’s overhead kick gave Chelsea a priceless 1-0 away victory over Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 Since then, Giroud has contributed 39 goals in 110 games for the Blues (a goal every 2.82 games) during which time he's only made 58 starts for the club -- not bad for an £18 million back-up forward. By scoring four goals, Giroud became the oldest player in Champions League history to score a hat-trick, while he is the oldest player to do it … The information contained in Goal (United States) may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Goal (United States), The Frenchman enjoyed a field day against his La Liga opponents to etch his name into European football history on Wednesday evening, Solskjaer explains Man Utd row between Fred & Maguire, Alderweireld: We have to respect Mourinho, Saint-Maximin defends Mane from 'ungrateful' Liverpool fans, Lucky Laporte lifts Carabao Cup kings Man City to yet another Wembley triumph, King Street 'clowns' - Bordeaux left on the brink of collapse by American owners, Sign a striker! Liverpool's Champions League bid undermined by poor finishing and missed chances, Super League clubs compared to flat-earthers and Monty Python characters by UEFA president Ceferin, recently hinted a move away in January could be on the cards. This Champions League last-16 first leg was his 574th game in 16 years as … Can Premier League 'Big Six' fix the mess? Giroud also sealed the best goals-to-minutes ratio of any player to score at least twice in this season's Champions League, averaging a goal every 38 minutes on the pitch. Copyright © 2021 Goal (United States) All rights reserved. Giroud spent five years developing in Grenoble's youth academy before signing his first professional contract at the age of 21. (0:54). A moment of brilliance for Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud saw the Blues earn a huge 1-0 win away to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 first leg on Tuesday. All the latest UEFA Champions League statistics for Olivier Giroud. It's impossible not to admire Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone. If you [a club] trusted me, it was because I must have had some qualities." ", Giroud's enthusiasm certainly shone through in his postmatch interview, when he declared: "I love overhead kicks!". - ESPN+ viewer's guide: Bundesliga, Serie A, MLS, FA Cup and more.