N’Golo Kanté tips Olivier Giroud to score against Tottenham Hotspur

Pictured above is Olivier Giroud salivating at the thought of playing against, and most importantly, scoring against Tottenham Hotspur at the end of this week. At least I imagine that’s what he was thinking about as he was warming up in France’s ever-classy training kits ahead of their friendly against Colombia on Friday. Giroud did find the back of the net in that one for the game’s opening goal and was one of Les Blues’ better players in a game that saw them surrender a two-goal lead and lose 3-2. So let’s hope that latter part doesn’t happen on Sunday.

We’re hardly alone in hoping that Giroud gets his first Premier League for Chelsea against Spurs. He himself has talked about it recently, as has head coach Antonio Conte. Also cheerleading for the big man is international teammate and saviour of the world or at least the Chelsea midfield, N’Golo Kanté.

“We know Olivier is a goalscorer, he has scored many goals already in the Premier League for Arsenal and he has still not played that many games for Chelsea. Even last season he got a lot of goals and he wasn’t starting all the matches for Arsenal.

“We are not worried that he will soon start getting goals for Chelsea in the Premier League, and he should not be worried either.”

Since joining on transfer deadline day in January, Giroud has made 8 appearances (335 minutes), collecting 3 assists and a lone FA Cup goal. He has played well, even jumping over record signing Álvaro Morata for a minute in the pecking order, but strikers are judged first and foremost on goals.

“They will come – and maybe against Tottenham next weekend. Hopefully he will score, and we can win that game.”

-N’Golo Kanté; source: Mirror

Sunday’s game is pivotal for Chelsea’s top four hopes this season, with the Blues trailing fourth-place Spurs by five points at the moment. Giroud, who has faced Spurs as an Arsenal player 10 times but has scored just twice and none since 2013, could become an instant hero with his third.