Olivier Giroud believes ‘God wanted him to stay at Chelsea’ after the striker signed a contract extension to extend his stay at the Blues. However, Giroud was rewarded with a contract extension until the end of next season.
‘I was supposed to leave in the January transfer window because I wasn’t playing much and I needed more game time to make the France squad for Euro 2020,’ Giroud told the club’s website.
‘I very nearly left the club but I really think that God wanted me to stay at Chelsea. The manager told me that he couldn’t let me leave because he didn’t have anyone to replace me. Everyone knows what happened so I won’t go back over it but the coach spoke to me privately and told me that he’d give more games.
He kept his word and what then mattered to me was proving to him that he could count on me when I was called upon. I simply seized my opportunity and I repaid the faith that the manager had shown in me.
‘That’s why the club ultimately offered me the chance to continue my time at Chelsea and I accepted immediately because I like it here. I want to keep winning trophies and I want to continue to show the manager that he can count on me.
‘Plus, with the whole coronavirus lockdown situation, I didn’t really feel comfortable with the idea of moving abroad and uprooting my family. I think a lot about our quality of life and we have a great setup here. I think a lot about my family now.’