Football News

Didier Deschamps turns tables on Chelsea boss Frank Lampard’s N’Golo Kante request

By Mohamed Moallim

Published: 16:25, 4 October 2019 | Updated: 13:13, 25 February 2020

France manager Didier Deschamps has jokingly hinted a future call to his Chelsea counterpart Frank Lampard regarding more playing time for Olivier Giroud.

The 33-year-old French marksman has sporadically featured for the Blues this season with Tammy Abraham being the preferred option to lead their line.

Giroud’s situation. Five key things to know…

  • Olivier Giroud joined Chelsea in January 2018 from city rivals Arsenal.
  • He’s since gone on to make 68 appearances in all competitions, registering 19 goals and 13 assists.
  • So far this season he’s played five times, totalling 191 minutes, but seemingly remaining indispensable for France.
  • Giroud is Les Bleus third most prolific scorer in history on 36 goals, five behind Michel Platini (41) and a further 15 away from Thierry Henry (51).
  • His national team boss Dider Deschamps has joked that he’ll ask Chelsea manager Frank Lampard to play him more often.

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Despite a lack of minutes for his club side, Giroud remains a fixture under Deschamps, scoring in the last international break moving him to within five of Michel Platini total output for Les Bleus.

Giroud, with 93 caps under his belt, has bagged 36 international goals to date. He’s got a while to go to reach Thierry Henry’s record tally of 51 but chances are Girould will fall short given he’s announced his retirement after Euro 2020.

France were comfortable victors against Albania (4-1) and Andorra (3-0) last time out, winning both without the presence of dynamic Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kanté, whom Lampard requested to be left out which Deschamps complied with.

However, if the Parisian-born footballer is to miss out in their forthcoming games, then Deschamps hopes to get a favour of his own.

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“Lampard asked me not to pick [N’Golo] Kanté at the last time,” he told reporters.

“If that’s still that way. Maybe I’ll call him later to tell him it would be nice if you play Olivier Giroud a little bit.”