Giroud vows to quit Blues if he is kept on sidelines

Olivier Giroud has warned he will quit Chelsea if he does not play more matches — and claimed Maurizio Sarri’s tactics make it harder for the team to score. The France striker, 32, is top scorer in the europa league this season with nine goals, but has only started seven Premier league games. He is out of contract at the end of the season, but Chelsea have an option to extend his contract by a year — and they are likely to take it up. Giroud, who will start up front against Slavia Prague in the europa league quarter-final second leg tonight, said: ‘Trust me, i’m very frustrated when i’m not on the pitch, but i don’t want to show it. When you are a competitor, when you’ve been through difficulties all through your career, you need to keep that frustration inside you and transform it into positive energy on the pitch. That’s why i say next year i need to have a more important role in the team.’ Giroud, Alvaro Morata and Gonzalo Higuain have all toiled up front under Sarri and Giroud added: ‘We could be more dangerous with crosses, running behind. When you are not scoring enough goals, you point at the striker, but it’s more having to improve the offensive formation. ‘if i compare it with other systems i’ve played — for example with France — i’d rather play with a No 10. But it’s not just about the system. it’s a philosophy, finishing with more players in the box. We need to improve in that way.’