Olivier Giroud’s time at Chelsea was a success, partly because of the talented defenders that he lined up alongside.
During his spell at Stamford Bridge, the Lille striker won the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup.
Giroud and Eden Hazard did a lot of damage in attack, while the likes of Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta shone at the back.
As a Chelsea player, Giroud also impressed for France, while Hazard delivered in some big games for Belgium.
Olivier Giroud warms up ahead of CF Montreal v Los Angeles Football Club
Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images
Giroud was recently asked to put together a squad of the best footballers he has ever played with.
Unsurprisingly, Hazard made the cut, while Rudiger was one defender that the Frenchman went with.
Chelsea lost Rudiger at the end of the 2021/22 season, with the central defender joining Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Giroud left west London a year earlier after signing for AC Milan, where he was able to win the 2022 Serie A title.
Joao Pedro and Liam Delap are now the main strikers at Chelsea. Giroud spoke about Delap before Chelsea’s game against Los Angeles FC at the Club World Cup, giving the Englishman his backing following his move to Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Maresca has been without Delap since August, though, after the 22-year-old picked up a hamstring injury during Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Fulham.
Antonio Rudiger during Chelsea vs Bournemouth
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
Chelsea still paying for Antonio Rudiger exit
The departure of Rudiger really hurt Chelsea. The Blues signed Wesley Fofana and Kalidou Koulibaly to fill the void that the German and Andreas Christensen left, but those additions have not worked out.
Fofana has struggled to stay fit, while Koulibaly is not even at the club any more.
Rudiger was a very reliable and experienced defender for Chelsea. He is the profile of centre-back that Chelsea’s current squad lacks.
Had he still been at Stamford Bridge, the Blues probably would not have conceded some of the goals that they have.