Olivier Giroud has opened up about his frustrations during his time at Chelsea, revealing that he intended to leave the club before Euro 2020 because he wasn’t getting enough game time under Frank Lampard. As the transfer window drew to a close, he was close to completing a switch to Inter Milan, but the move fell through, eventually resulting in his transfer to their Serie A rivals, AC Milan.
The French striker was with Chelsea from January 2018 until July 2021, making 119 appearances, scoring 39 goals, and providing 14 assists. During his tenure, he lifted the FA Cup in 2018 and the UEFA Europa League in 2019, where he finished as the tournament's top scorer with 11 goals. He also secured a Champions League title in 2021 under the management of Thomas Tuchel.
Giroud also reflected on the criticism he faced during his stints at both Arsenal and Chelsea, highlighting the importance of building a psychological shield to protect himself from negativity and gossip.
