Says OLIVIER GIROUD

yeah, take the Golden Boot too!’ It will be always a small pinch in my heart but I know the contribution.” Giroud barely had time to bask in the glory of winning the World Cup and only this week was expecting to receive his replica trophy. Instead, after “only 19 days proper holiday”, it was back to another more familiar test – his seemingly never-ending battle to prove he should be Chelsea’s No.1 striker. That same challenge he faced at Arsenal and with France, he now has at Chelsea with rival Alvaro Morata.

“In France, people who know me very well say that I’ve always had to fight for my place and that I needed the competition,” he said.

“I prefer to be like that and in a big club, instead of being less ambitious, and playing every single week in the starting XI, but in a less prestigious team. I will always fight for my place and it is like that I was successful.”

And he will keep fighting until that success includes a Premier League title.

“I think it is maybe my last dream as a football player,” Giroud added.

“Maybe more than the Champions League, honestly, because I know how tough it is to win this league.

“And some of the Chelsea players have won it too, so I’m a bit jealous!”