Giroud will leave Chelsea in January ‘if forced to make a choice’

Chelsea’s striker situation could see some hard decisions made in the next couple months, as both Michy Batshuayi and Olivier Giroud vie for something more than backup minutes behind the goal-per-game form of young Tammy Abraham. France head coach Didier Deschamps made it even more clear that he wants Olivier Giroud to be playing more. “You know, Olivier suffers his situation. Before January, nothing will move. After, it will be up to him to see. I hope he will have more playing time, " Deschamps said. “But we cannot take away his goals, his good performances. He scores, he makes others play well. He knows he is under pressure, but he always responds.” With less than a year left on his contract, Giroud's time at Chelsea is likely ending sooner rather than later. And if things work out a certain way, that could already be in January. “I’m going to fight for my place in Chelsea. The coach knows it. And we will decide in January," Giroud said. ”If I want to leave Chelsea? Not necessarily. But if I need to make a choice... I have some beautiful years in front of me. I’m 33, I still have legs and a good healthy lifestyle and I feel good physically. I want to have fun and want to play more games."

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