EPL: Giroud predicts what’ll happen to Delap at Chelsea as he takes No.9 shirt
Los Angeles striker, Olivier Giroud has backed Chelsea’s summer signing, Liam Delap to succeed at the club.
Giroud said this while dismissing the idea of Chelsea’s number nine shirt being cursed as he backed Delap to deliver at the Premier League west London club.
Delap recently joined Chelsea from Ipswich Town on a six-year deal.
The English striker will wear the number nine shirt at the Blues, which has been vacant since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left Stamford Bridge.
The likes of Aubameyang, Gonzalo Higuain, Romelu Lukaku, Radamel Falcao and Fernando Torres are among the other big names players that failed to deliver when in possession of the number 9 shirt for the club.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup clash with Los Angeles on Monday, Giroud was asked about Delap and the pressure of wearing number nine shirt at the Blues.
The Frenchman said at his pre-match interview: “When I signed for Milan, Paolo Maldini told me, ‘Are you sure about No.9? It’s kind of cursed… I said, ‘No, I want the nine!’ I showed him there was no curse. [Delap] is very talented. He will be fine.”
Giroud played for Chelsea in the past, but didn’t wear the number nine shirt.
The 38-year-old, who will face his former club in the Club World Cup, has played for the likes of Arsenal and AC Milan in the past.
EPL: Giroud predicts what’ll happen to Delap at Chelsea as he takes No.9 shirt
