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In this season of all seasons, depth of talent will be key for any club with true trophy ambitions.
Giroud, or his agent, may not want to spend most of their time at the bank, but for Lampard, it is an invaluable asset.
His injury-time header was as perfectly timed as it was positioned.
It makes it sound simple, but it was the opposite.
The 34-year-old had only been on the field for about 20 minutes, but was smart enough to be in a position to capitalize on Timo Werner’s failure to convert Hakim Ziyech’s pass. He also had the technique to make a perfect contact and send his header towards the ceiling of the net.
Giroud rescued Chelsea just when it looked like they were doing a harder job in the Champions League group they had been through up to this point.
Serhou Guirassy’s header in the 85th minute ruled out Callum Hudson-Odoi’s brilliant starter, and he seemed ready to make sure they would have to wait at least one more game to ensure a safe passage to the round of 16.
But Giroud did what Lampard knows he can, and provided the defining moment with the kind of clinical finish that has eluded Werner in recent games.
At that moment he underlined his value to this team. Lampard will have to wait for the promise of more moments like that, and the potential to win big trophies, to convince him to put off the idea of a move in January.
Chelsea were not at their best, but this was another game where their credentials were underlined.
They got the job done in one night showing the full depth of quality available to Lampard.
In an unusual start, Hudson-Odoi reminded us why Bayern Munich were so desperate to get him away from Stamford Bridge.
Ziyech emerged from the bench to create the play that led to the winner and another golden opportunity for Ben Chilwell.
N’Golo Kante and Reece James were other substitutes, while Christian Pulisic stayed in London to try to get fit for Sunday’s clash with Tottenham.
And there was Giroud, third in the hierarchical order of Chelsea’s strikers, but with the caliber to solve a game like this.
The victory saw Chelsea win three straight Champions League matches for the first time since 2015, underscoring how they have fared in the competition in recent years.
It was also the first time they achieved qualification this early in nine years.
They are statistics to make Giroud believe that he can be part of something special this season.
Safe progress now means Lampard can focus on the hectic Premier League schedule looming for the next month, which begins with Sunday’s top-of-the-table showdown with Spurs.
Chelsea could and should have finished the match midway through the first half.
Werner was guilty of wasting a golden opportunity by failing to hold his shot after the Hudson-Odoi ball.
Then a real quality moment gave Chelsea the upper hand, with Mason Mount key to it.
The midfielder first won the ball deep in his own half before advancing. He then looked up to sweep a pass in the path of Hudson-Odoi, who slid his shot past Alfred Gomis’ advance.
And when Mount pushed Ben Chilwell’s defenses back, it took a smart save from Gomis to repel him.
Chelsea’s intensity dropped and they were finally forced to pay when Guirassy went unmarked to overtake Edouard Mendy.
It felt like a punch until Giroud provided the knockout.
Mount proves its quality
Monte Hudson-Odoi put Chelsea in front and underscored the side of their game that seems to be overlooked during the debate on whether their place is worth it.
Much of the discussion around him is based on his pace of work and economic use of the ball. But he has the ability to open defenses with his vision and technique.
That he won the ball deep in his own half before spraying a pass on the Hudson-Odoi trail only showed his quality in every way.
Tottenham in Lampard’s mind
Lampard made all the right noises beforehand, warning his players not to take Rennes lightly or get distracted by Sunday’s showdown with Spurs, it was clear he had an eye on that table-top clash. .
Your team to face José Mourinho’s men is likely to look markedly different from their starting XI in France.
Ziyech, Kante and James are almost certain to return straight, while Kai Havertz could push for his first start since before the international break.
That Chelsea can replace those names with the quality of Hudon-Odoi and Jorginho is a measure of the strength in depth at Lampard’s disposal.
