Giroud: ‘I believe it was my destiny to stay at Chelsea’
Olivier Giroud, naturally, is thinking about what’s going to happen when he scores.
“No celebrations will be different because that’s what we love in football, scoring goals and enjoying it with your teammates,” the Chelsea striker says over Zoom. “When you are on the pitch you just try to focus on trying to do well with the team – just try not to hug your teammates when you score. I feel it is quite back to normal for me.”
Quite back to normal, but not completely. There is a fair bit that’s different. And that doesn’t just apply to
the coronavirus crisis, or the lack of fans, which Giroud particularly and repeatedly laments. There’s also the new spirit of political activism through the game, prompted by ‘Black Lives Matter’, driven by players such as Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford, and eagerly taken up by Giroud.
The French striker has been outspoken on homophobia in the game in the past, so isn’t one of those who has any reticence about speaking on these issues, or doing his part.
“It’s time to take actions, that we need to change something,” he says. “It’s 2020, and we still have to deal with these arrests and cases. It’s unacceptable, but it’s clear what happened to George Floyd. It’s disgusting – but we need to stand all together, stick together.
“When we were talking among all our teammates at Chelsea, we feel we just want to support them, and basically need change.
“It’s the same as when we’ve been to Boston, playing a game against anti-semitism. I have also supported the anti-homophobic cause. Any form of hate nowadays should be raised, and cancelled from our world. We want to make it disappear totally, because we’ve got enough to worry about, wars and poverty, and people who can’t even eat.
“So I’m very supportive of this cause. The most important thing is the players in my team also know I’m with them, that we’re together, that we stick together. We will play with ‘Black Lives Matter’, any kind of support I can do. It’s a good idea to be honest.
“It’s not enough to say I’m against racism, now you have to fight against it. Because we are celebrities – if I can say that. The kids look up to football players and sportsmen, so I think we have to show an example. I think our voices are very strong.”
Giroud is now feeling strong physically, having put in a lot of work over the time off.
“In the lockdown, I kept doing the Chelsea training programme, running almost every day… in the park by yourself,” he adds. “It was the first time in my life I just tried to keep fit and be ready for when we have to come back.
“It was a very difficult time and the same for every single player.”
Giroud openly admits that all of the Chelsea players had doubts about coming back as recently as last month – not just N’Golo Kante.
“We were just in the worst period of the virus. We had a few video calls all together and I can say, one month and a half ago, we didn’t feel very comfortable to come back.
“But because the Premier League and the PFA gave us all details of the security we will get, the training protocols and what is being done to keep everybody safe, we felt we could come back. I think it was a good strategy and now because we are very excited, back in training, we just want to carry on and hopefully everything will be ok.
“That’s what convinced me and all the boys I think to come back now because everything was set up well to come back safe and train safe.
“I feel more comfortable because we have been tested every three days, all negative. So I think everybody now feels very comfortable to come back to the competition. The Germans have shown us it could work well and that’s why I think it’s a good example. I’m just waiting for the first game.”
Kante is now the same, having been one of those who was initially granted compassionate leave.
“I can tell you now he is definitely with us,” Giroud says. “He’s been back with the team for almost one week now. I think in his mind he is totally confident about playing again. He played the friendly [against Reading] with us. He looked very confident and okay in himself. I believe like all the players he had at-risk people in his entourage so that’s why he didn’t feel very comfortable about coming back with us in the beginning.
“But I respect that and think he’s the best person to ask regarding what he is thinking when he is able to speak to you. But we are very glad to have him back and I think he will definitely be here for the first game. He is looking good.”
Kante is also looking a little different.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen him with so much hair,” Giroud laughs.
Many, of course, believe Giroud’s career could have gone rather differently, had it not been for the crisis. It was widely cited as a reason he signed a new contract. The striker denies this.
“I read in the newspaper that coronavirus influenced my decision,” he says. “You cannot forget the situation obviously, but when the club wanted to give me another year because I have shown a strong character when I came back in the team in February, I felt that my journey at Chelsea was not over. Obviously we have this situation as well. It was part of everything.
“All through my career I have always been through difficulties and the best thing to do is to bounce back, to show your desire to get back in the team. It was a difficult time for me. I was close to leaving the club but I didn’t really want to. I needed game time for the Euros and it’s true I spoke with the gaffer, Frank, regarding maybe letting me go for another challenge. He said ‘yes’. But he understood my situation. He was a player and we always had a great understanding regarding my future.
“When he just told me that I was going to have more chances to show I could get back in the team I just trusted him and I really want to fight for it, like I have done before at Arsenal as well. My motivation was very high. I just wanted to come back. He gave me the opportunity to show that and I just tried to pay him back for the opportunity he gave me. It worked well. I was so happy and it feels like a new start. We don’t know what’s going to happen in the future but I’m focused on the pitch and the season. I want to win more trophies with Chelsea and I just want to give my team-mates and the manager confidence.
“I believe my destiny was to stay at Chelsea for a few more months and now for another year.”
It will have a bit more competition in the forward places. Giroud talks about Timo Werner and praises the signing, as well as that of Hakim Ziyech.
“You know, to win trophies and have good competition in the team, to always step up and give the best for the team, obviously then you can reinforce the team it’s always a good thing, even more these last two transfer windows, obviously as you know we couldn’t get new signings, so I think the club just want to make the team look stronger and, yeah, Ziyech is a very good signing. I think he helps a lot with his qualities, and Timo Werner too I think is going to be a very good signing for the club, and more motivation for strikers.”
Giroud insists there’s plenty of motivation now.
“Trust me, all the boys are looking forward to coming back to competition. We have a lot of younger talent who have a lot of energy. They just want to enjoy football again and can’t wait to play this first game at Villa. I am sure we will get back to our best football as soon as possible. We are doing everything, we are working hard in training to get our fitness and a good understanding back.
“The objective is clear: it is to finish third or fourth and I would obviously love to win the FA Cup as well. We are 100% committed.”
And not just to the football.