OLIVIER GIROUD’S incredible goalscoring performance against Sevilla saw him become just the second player to net four times for an English club in the Champions League.
The Frenchman, 34, walked off with the matchball after scoring a perfect hat-trick in the 4-0 win in Spain last night.
Olivier Giroud is just the second player to score four goals for an English club in the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Ruud van Nistelrooy netted four times for Manchester United 16 years agoCredit: Getty – Contributor
Giroud also netted a late penalty to seal Chelsea’s place at the top of their group.
And the veteran striker is now just the second man to achieve the feat for an English club in Europe’s elite competition.
The other player who has done it is Manchester United icon Ruud van Nistelrooy.
He fired home four goals against Sparta Prague in the 2004 group stage – 16 years ago.
Giroud isn’t the first Frenchman to do it either, with Bafetimbi Gomis scoring four for Lyon against Dinamo Zagreb in 2011.
Atalanta’s Josip Ilicic also hit the back of the net four times earlier this year against Valencia.
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (2012) and Shakhtar Donetsk’s Luiz Adrian (2014) each scored FIVE goals against Bayer Leverkusen and BATE Borisov respectively.
But Giroud’s effort was a huge statement after failing to start a single Premier League or Champions League game this season before last night.
However, despite his clinical performance, the World Cup winner could still find himself out of the side to face Leeds this weekend.
Boss Frank Lampard said: “We’ll have to see – it’s a tight turnaround but it’s four goals in a game.
“It is an amazing performance to score four goals at Champions League level against a really good opponent, and the individual quality of all of his goals.
“Rightly he gets a standing ovation as he comes off the pitch. I’m delighted for him.
“He is the ultimate professional and I think he’s done that in his career and I think that’s why with Oli, you see his numbers for France and in the Champions League.
“He wasn’t always a regular before I got here but as soon as I came in I could feel the positivity off of him as a player, how he wants to try and how he wants to affect people whether he starts or not.
“Olivier is reliable, full stop. Not just for us but his international goals for France. He’s up there with great individuals, he’s got great statistics.
“I’m not too bothered about that in a way but I am bothered about what he gives us on the pitch.
“There couldn’t be a teammate there that the players are happier for because of the way Olivier is around the training pitch and in the games.”
⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge
Olivier Giroud grabs four goals for Chelsea in Champions League tie with Sevilla
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
