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Chelsea manager Frank Lampard admitted that Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham are giving him “a problem” after the late winner of the Frenchman put the Blues into the knockout stages of the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Chelsea qualified for the round of 16 with two games to go, their first in 10 years, beating Rennes 2-1 in France.
Callum Hudson-Odoi’s effort in the first half was nullified by Serhou Guirassy in a Rennes corner with five minutes to go before substitute Giroud appeared to lead the winner into injury time.
Giroud has only played 157 minutes for Chelsea this season with Abraham established as Lampard’s leader and Timo Werner as an alternate option down the middle.
And with French manager Didier Deschamps urging Giroud to leave Stamford Bridge ahead of the Euro next summer, the 34-year-old forward may have a decision to make in January.
But it is a valuable option in reserve for Lampard and he admits that having to choose between Abraham and Giroud is a very difficult decision.
Speaking to BT Sport after the victory at Roazhon Park, Lampard said: “Very happy to qualify with two games to spare, although we want to try to lead the group. It was a very difficult match tonight for us to come here.
“Rennes are a very good team, possibly an underrated team when you look at their recent form. They are better than that and we found out tonight.
“But we also played well during great moments of the game. We won hard and hard.”
On the winner of the match, Giroud, he added: “That was great for him. Not only that, but his heist game when he came in, his physique.
“I have a problem because I have Tammy who is playing well and we know what she did last year and Oli always brings that professionalism that way. After the restart she was incredible.
“I have two players in a similar position who are fighting for a place. That is a good problem.
“Oli will have his minutes because we have a very busy schedule. We play every few days, you saw the few changes I made today, I felt I had to do it for freshness in the team.”
“I think the reason you see such a reaction around the goal is not just a last minute winner but someone like Oli who acts like he does every day, day after day, shows you what he means to this team “.
After sealing their place in the next round of the Champions League, Chelsea will face their round of 16 qualifying partner Sevilla in a shootout that could decide who leads Group E next month.
But the next step for Lampard’s Blues is the visit of Premier League leaders Tottenham on Sunday (start at 4.30pm) and former Chelsea manager José Mourinho to Stamford Bridge.
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The two London clubs will be looking to punch each other’s hopes of challenging Liverpool and Manchester City for the title.
And Lampard admitted that he has been thinking about the match all week, even despite having to prepare for the clash with Rennes.
“I’ve been thinking about it for about three days! I know you always have to prioritize the game in front of you, but we are very aware of where we are in the league,” he said.
“We are well aware that it is a great match on Sunday. Chelsea against Tottenham will always be a great match for the rivalry that it is.
“But they are a very, very good team, so the important thing now is to prepare well.
“We have a day off tomorrow for the guys, really well deserved for them because they have had a very busy schedule with the internationals. Then on Thursday morning we will start to think about Tottenham correctly in training ground.”
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