Chelsea matchwinner Olivier Giroud reveals ‘notepad and pen’ goal celebration against Norwich on Tuesday night was a nod to ‘playing SCRABBLE with N’Golo Kante’
Olivier Giroud says his unusual goal celebration on Tuesday was a nod towards scrabble partner N’Golo Kante.
The Frenchman scored the only goal as the Blues picked up three crucial points against Norwich in their fight for a top-four spot in the Premier League.
Giroud, recalled to the starting line-up, scored in first-half stoppage-time with a diving header and after mimicking using a notepad and a pen, he revealed afterwards what the cryptic celebration was a nod towards.
Olivier Giroud mimicked using a notepad and a pen after his goal and has now revealed why
The celebration was a nod towards playing scrabble with team-mate N’Golo Kante
The 33-year-old laughed and said: ‘Oh I play scrabble with N’Golo Kante. That’s it.’
Giroud, who did not start in the 3-0 drubbing against Sheffield United on Saturday, was the difference between the two sides at Stamford Bridge.
Despite often being behind Tammy Abraham and Michy Batshuayi in the pecking order under Frank Lampard, Giroud has proven reliable when called upon this season.
He has scored six goals and has started 10 times for the Blues in the Premier League, including crucial goals against Aston Villa, Watford, Crystal Palace and now the Canaries since the Premier League restart.
Giroud’s diving header in first-half stoppage-time was the difference at Stamford Bridge
‘He [Giroud] is a big character for us and he is scoring important goals at the minute,’ Lampard said after Tuesday’s game. ‘Just before lockdown he came in and was part of a couple of big results so that’s credit he was due anyway.
‘He has never given me a problem, he has always trained brilliantly. His professionalism was always good.
‘I told him in January I wanted him to stay and he was fantastic in how he handled that. The way he plays is important for us.’
Frank Lampard heaped praise on striker Giroud after his fourth goal since the league restart
Tuesday’s win keeps Chelsea in pole position in the three-way battle for two Champions League spots next season.
Lampard’s side are four points clear of Leicester and Manchester United – who both have a game in hand – with two matches left.
They travel to champions Liverpool next Wednesday before concluding their season at home to Wolves, on Sunday July 26.