Chelsea: Frank Lampard no longer has an excuse to avoid Olivier Giroud

If nothing else was clear against Manchester United, it was that Olivier Giroud deserves the minutes over Michy Batshuayi for Chelsea.

In Chelsea’s defense, they tried desperately to make Michy Batshuayi catch on. A loan to Dortmund and later one to Crystal Palace, while falling out at Valencia in between, seemed to have worked. Except it never truly did. Batshuayi did as he always did; he showed up in great flashes before falling off a cliff again.

It is understandable from a bird’s eye tactical view as to why Batshuayi gets the nod over Giroud. A Frank Lampard striker needs to be constant motion on and off the ball and pressing needs to be one of their key attributes. Giroud’s game was never that mobile.

But with Tammy Abraham remaining touch and go for Tottenham Hotspur, if there was a time to give Giroud the nod over Batshuayi, now would be the time.

When Giroud came on against Manchester United, he immediately improved Chelsea. No, he was not as mobile as Batshuayi but everyone around him ended up playing better with him on the field than the Belgian. That has been a constant trait of Giroud throughout his Chelsea career and it is a huge reason as to why France still start him. He improves others.

And while the pressing and mobility are important, when the opponent is sitting back that is much less needed to find holes. Sometimes the best action is an inaction and Giroud can pin a defense down and let others do the moving. United backed off and allowed him to do so and it is highly likely that Tottenham will as well.

The main question will be whether or not Giroud has finally done enough to earn his shot with Lampard. By all accounts, he has been nothing but professional this season. That is despite barely playing at all and despite a move elsewhere imploding at the last second in January. With the Euros on the way, Giroud could have been kicking up a fuss but he has simply gotten his head down and continued about his work.

Even if Abraham is fit enough for Tottenham, it would likely be wise to save him for other days. Abraham is clearly and rightfully Chelsea’s first choice striker, but that does not matter if he is being run into the ground as he has been. That is where Giroud can step in and do his work.

Furthermore, maybe Chelsea just need a bit of that veteran presence on the field for an opponent like Tottenham. Or at the very least a striker that has some weight behind him historically. Tottenham will be injury ravaged as well but they lack leaders to begin with. Giroud could be the type to make all the difference in that event.

Even if his time at Chelsea is in the closing stages, it is past time to trust Giroud with some minutes. Batshuayi has been given his chance, a few times now, and done little with it. Time for a World Cup winner to step in before he steps out.