Back in the summer, when Maurizio Sarri freshly took the Chelsea managerial helm, there was a general agreement that they needed to add depth to their forward options. With only Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata as the recognised forwards in the senior squad, the Blues were linked with potential moves with the likes of Gonzalo Higuain before the transfer window ended with Chelsea not being able to sign someone to compete with their two strikers.
While both started slow, they have recently breathed life midway through the season. Morata has hit a rich vein of form, scoring in five of his last six matches while Giroud has recently broken his goalscoring duck in the win against BATE Borisov in the Europa League.
Nevertheless, the thought persists that the west Londoners are in need of striking reinforcements if they are to challenge for the Premier League title as well as on other fronts and as the winter transfer window edges closer, it would be understandable if either Giroud or Morata poses concern about their status with the Blues squad.
However, the former begs to differ. Giroud believes that rumours are a normal part of football before insisting that he and his fellow forward are determined in showing that the club does not need to add strikers.
“All the speculation is part of the sport, part of the job. We must expect good players, good strikers at big clubs. But the both of us just need to carry on and show the team is doing well with us,” said the French international, who added that they do prove their worth by doing other responsibilities besides hitting the ball at the back of the net.
“It’s true that at times we didn’t score. But as I always used to say, some strikers need to do the runs for team-mates, to do the things that people don’t see,” added Giroud. “We are fully committed to Chelsea. Even if sometimes it wasn’t perfect, I will always give my maximum.”
“I’m not worried about the future and I’m sure we will score more goals for the team. It (the talk of Chelsea signing another forward) doesn’t trouble me, no. I am a competitor and I will do my best until the end of my contract.”
The 32-year-old forward also hailed the healthy competition between him and Morata and says that this fight for a starting spot will benefit the squad altogether. “It has always been a fair competition between Alvaro and me and now we are going to step up and reach a higher level of competition between us. Then it will be better for the team.”
