Laurent Koscielny reportedly failed to convince Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud to leave the club last summer.
“Yes, it’s true. I tried. Olive didn’t come and I totally respect his choice. He still feels capable of playing at the highest level, in a club that plays the Champions League,” Koscielny told France Football.
“He wants to continue to play for the France national team in the Euros and maybe even go to the 2022 World Cup.
“If he still feels capable of doing it, letting him enjoy it as much as possible.
“A career is short. (…) I gave him all the arguments as to why I’m at Bordeaux, and he completely understood. He still wants to win and stay at the highest level.”
The veteran striker was expected by many to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of last season after Timo Werner agreed to join the club. Giroud served as a second-choice striker for the majority of last season to Tammy Abraham and it was expected that Werner’s arrival would relegate him to third choice.
Koscienly who now plays for and captains Ligue 1 club Bordeaux was keen to reunite with Giroud with whom he was previously team-mates at Arsenal for several years.
Giroud’s career has been a case of continuous perseverance
While he is not the most naturally gifted striker around, Giroud makes up for his lack of natural ability to willpower and professionalism. Karim Benzema is a far more gifted striker than him, let it was Giroud who lead the line for France in the 2018 World Cup. A big reason for this is because of his professional etiquette and because of how he influences those around him.
While Giroud did not score a single goal in France’s World Cup-winning campaign, he helped to bring the best out of his attacking partners and played a crucial role in the triumph in his own right.
Giroud has continued to shine for Chelsea this season amidst early season struggles of Werner and Abraham. There is no doubt that the young duo can learn a lot from their experienced team-mate who now has almost a decade of Premier League experience.
