Chelsea midfielder Jorginho has spoken about the joy he felt seeing Olivier Giroud his first goal in the Champions League this season. (GETTY Images)
Speaking in a pre-match press conference (h/t Chelsea FC official website) via a video link from Cobham on Tuesday, Jorginho talked about his elation at seeing ‘nice guy’ Olivier Giroud score the winner in the Champions League encounter against Stade Rennais last week.
Chelsea traveled to Stade de le Route de Lorient last week to take on Stade Rennais on matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League group stages.
Callum Hudson-Odoi scored early on to open the scoring for Chelsea before Serhou Guirassy equalized for Rennes five minutes from time.
However, substitute Olivier Giroud leapt highest to head in an injury-time winner and hand Chelsea all three points in a win that ensured their qualification to the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds.
The goal against Stade Rennais was Giroud’s second goal of the season since his strike in a 6-0 rout of Barnsley in the EFL Cup back in September.
Giroud’s role at the club has been reduced to cameo appearances. He has only played 189 minutes of football this season, with 76 of them coming in the EFL Cup loss to Spurs in his only start of the season. (h/t Transfermarkt)
Amidst a tough time for the Frenchman at the club, teammate Jorginho expressed his elation at seeing him score against Rennes and said that the goal felt even better because of who the scorer was.
“Everyone loves him because he’s such a nice guy and he deserves it. I was so happy for Oli because of the person he is, the way he works every single day with a smile.”
Jorginho went on to add that Giroud’s contribution on and off the pitch is vital to the team and that seeing the goal go in was ‘an amazing feeling‘.
“He brings so much to our group, not just on the pitch but in the changing room as well so when I saw the ball going in, I was just so happy. That’s football and that’s why I love it. You never know what’s going to happen and in that moment it was an amazing feeling.”
Olivier Giroud has not hidden his feelings about his lack of playing time under Frank Lampard. The 34-year-old has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge as he looks to secure a berth in the French team travelling to the 2020 UEFA Euros next summer.
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