Bicycle pumped
Giroud stunner boosts Blues
Olivier Giroud’s magnificent bicycle kick broke Atletico Madrid’s resistance and earned Chelsea a crucial away goal in its Champions League last 16 battle on Wednesday.
Thomas Tuchel’s side won 1-0 after Giroud’s acrobatic strike was initially ruled out for offside but stood after VAR showed Mario Hermoso had got the final touch, delivering a huge blow to Atletico’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.
“I didn’t know what to think about the goal, I just focused on hitting the ball,” Giroud said. “I love an overhead kick and I was just pleased to see the ball hit the back of the net. I had no clue about being offside or not.”
Diego Simeone’s side had put on a typically disciplined defensive performance until that point, but Giroud’s moment of genius means Atletico will have to score in London on March 17 if it is to avoid an early exit.
It also continues a worrying dip for Atletico, whose lead in
La Liga is also under threat after one win in four matches.
“The results aren’t going for us, so we have to work, work, work and work,” Simeone said.
“If you’d said to me in September we’d lose this first leg 1-0 and be top of the league, I’d have signed for that for sure.”
Chelsea, meanwhile, passed its biggest test since Tuchel was appointed at the end of January, backing up a strong run against lesser lights in the Premier League with a polished display against one of Europe’s elite.
“We knew their strengths and dealt with them,” Giroud said. “We need to stay focused now and finish the job.”
Giroud’s goal in the 68th minute was only the third Atletico has conceded in 14 home legs of the Champions League knockout stages under Simeone, even if this fixture was at home only in name.
Restrictions imposed by the Spanish government meant the game had to be played in Bucharest instead of Madrid.