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Can you drop a striker after he has scored four goals in the Champions League? That’s the question Frank Lampard will ponder ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Leeds on Saturday.
Olivier Giroud, who has been starved for action in the Premier League this season, was in sensational form in Seville when he scored all four goals in Chelsea’s 4-0 win against the Spanish side.
Was that performance enough for him to get ahead of Tammy Abraham and take a spot as a starter this weekend? Or does Timo Werner offer Lampard his best option down the middle?
We analyze Chelsea’s central attacking options …
Saturday, December 5 7:45 pm
Start 8:00 pm
Tammy abraham
Abraham was Chelsea’s top scorer last season with 15 Premier League goals and, now 23, the English international aims to secure his place as the Blues’ first-choice center forward.
However, with that role comes the pressure to deliver week after week and Abraham was criticized after Sunday’s goalless draw with Tottenham for failing to seize the opportunities presented to him during a close encounter at Stamford Bridge.
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Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says Tammy Abraham can and should do better after missing a string of good chances in Chelsea’s draw with Tottenham.
“You have to improve on those [big-chance] moments, “said former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink.” He did very well last year when he came in, for the first half of the season it was a breath of fresh air and he scored a lot of goals. In the second half he had a difficult time, which is normal because he is a young boy.
“This season, you have to step up and I think sometimes he can do better. With his height and his ability, he should do better and score more goals, especially the most important ones.
“Sometimes I wonder ‘do you see clips of yourself after the game?’ His movement may be a little better, his stamina may be a little better. He needs to keep improving. “
Sky Sports expert Roy Keane agreed. “The advantage is that he had opportunities, but the key is that if you want to be a great player in a great club, you have to score the important goals. Chelsea had the best opportunities [against Tottenham] and in such a tight game, it was decent chances that he missed. “
Abraham has three goals and an assist to his name in nine Premier League appearances so far this season, but he faces the competition …
Listen to the launch of Sky Sports to publish the podcast on: Spotify | Apple | Castbox
Olivier giroud
French forward Olivier Giroud is now 34 years old, but he continues to make an impact every time he plays for Chelsea.
He was a key figure after the resumption of football in the summer, scoring seven goals in 11 domestic games as Chelsea secured a top-four result in the league and reached the FA Cup final, and his loot of four Goals in Seville was a striking reminder of his finishing ability.
There has been speculation about his future, with reports suggesting that Juventus and Inter Milan are weighing a move for him in the January transfer window, and playing time is an issue with Giroud eager to play for France in the Eurocup next summer. He has played just 47 minutes in the Premier League so far this season but, after his heroics in Seville, he is surely pushing for a starting role now.
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Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has praised Olivier Giroud after he scored four goals in his Champions League victory in Seville.
“It’s pretty clear that it’s been underused,” Sky Sports’s Adam Bate told the Pitch to Post Preview Podcast.
“There is always the feeling with Giroud that he feels a bit reluctant, which is almost inconvenient that he could be better than Tammy Abraham because he is 34 years old and it would be wonderful if Chelsea didn’t need him at all and that Abraham could do it all Werner he could do it all and they could use Giroud sparingly.
“He wants to play in the Euro, maybe he wants the World Cup only 18 months after that, so he needs more minutes and if that is going to happen, it is a balancing act for Lampard for the time he gives him. I want to keep it sweet. but not stifle the progress of Abraham.
“If Chelsea were to play the Champions League final tomorrow I would be tempted to have Giroud ahead of Abraham, but obviously Lampard has to take other factors into account.”
Timo Werner
Such is Lampard’s abundance of offensive talent at Chelsea this season that he has a genuine third option at center forward in Timo Werner.
The German international has played seven times down the middle for Chelsea this season, scoring five goals and recording three assists in those games.
Timo Werner has played for Tammy Abraham’s left
Those stats are superior to his performances from the left (six goals and one assist in 10 appearances), but that larger role is likely to be his position going forward. It was where he excelled at his old club, RB Leipzig, and also allows him to make the most of his pace.
Chelsea’s move to 4-3-3 allows him to shift from the left flank when needed, but he’s more prepared for that wider space than holding the ball or playing with his back to goal. Expect him to show up there when Abraham and Giroud get fit and shoot.
Post Shot Preview: Redknapp Assess Tottenham and Arsenal; Plus the return of the fans, the Chelsea striker dilemma and more!
This week in the Pitch to Post Preview Podcast, Jamie Redknapp Unions Peter blacksmith Y Adam Hit look to the north london derby and assess Tottenham Y From Arsenal contrasting form.
Sky Sports News reporter Steal Dorsett also has the latest from Leicester and the future of Jonny Evans, as we discuss whether Olivier Giroud should be Chelsea’s first choice forward and Man Utd’s complicated trip to West Ham.
Also, we hear from a Charlton fan on the experience of watching live football again. Adam also makes his bold pitch for what he thinks will happen in this weekend’s Premier League action, and it’s good news for teams in the relegation zone …
Listen to the launch of Sky Sports to publish the podcast on: Spotify | Apple | Castbox
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