Extraordinary performance. That’s the 2 words that might come out in everyone’s mind after looking at Olivier Giroud’s quattrick at his previous match. At an age that is no longer the golden age for footballers, Chelsea’s striker, Giroud was able to score four goals or make a quattrick when Chelsea hit host Sevilla in the 5th match of Group E of the UEFA Champions League. Olivier Giroud’s quatrick made Chelsea even better in the UEFA Champions League this season.
The match between Chelsea versus Sevilla itself has no effect on both of them. Because, both Chelsea and Sevilla have confirmed themselves to qualify for the knockout phase of the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
It’s just that for Chelsea, the victory over Sevilla is clearly a proof that Chelsea deserves to be the best in Group E. In addition, Chelsea’s big win over Sevilla is a signal that Chelsea is also worthy of being reckoned with as a strong candidate to win the UEFA Champions League this season.
Looking at the match statistics, in fact Sevilla appeared a little more dominant than Chelsea. Sevilla’s possession of the ball was recorded as being able to control 56%, while Chelsea was 44%. Sevilla also recorded more passes than Chelsea. Sevilla made 522 passes, while Chelsea made only 422 passes.
Although from match statistics Sevilla is a more dominant than Chelsea, in fact it is Chelsea who came out as winners. The four goals that Olivier Giroud scored against Sevilla in the 8th, 54th, 74th and 83rd minutes were not able to be avoided by Sevilla players.
For Olivier Giroud himself, the quattrick he created against Sevilla was very important and meaningful. Because the quattrick will “force” Chelsea coach Frank Lampard to continue to believe in him and play him in every game Chelsea plays.
In addition, for Olivier Giroud, the quattrick he created against Sevilla opened his chance to become the top scorer of the UEFA Champions League this season. The current top scorer in the UEFA Champions League is still held by three players with a collection of 6 goals each, namely Alvaro Morata (Juventus), Erling Braut Haland (Borussia Dortmund), and Marcus Rashford (Manchester United). Meanwhile, Olivier Giroud himself followed the three players with a collection of 5 goals.
Olivier Giroud is not the only player capable of making a quattrick in the Champions League. Several names have been recorded as having done the same thing in the Champions League.
Last season, there were three players who made quattrick in the UEFA Champions League. They are Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munchen), and Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munchen). Josip Ilicic, made a quattrick when Atalanta beat Valencia 4-3. The victory led Atalanta to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals with a convincing aggregate, 8-4.
Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich) managed to create a quattrick when Bayern Munich crushed Tottenham Hotspur 7-2 in the UEFA Champions League group phase (01/10/2019). Meanwhile, Gnabry’s teammate, Robert Lewandowski, was able to make a quattrick when Bayern Munich crushed Crvena Zvezda with six goals without reply (26/11/2019).
Other players who have also made quattrick in the Champions League are Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid / 2015), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG / 2013), Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund / 2013), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munchen / 2012), Bafetimbi Gomis ( Olympic Lyon / 2011), and Lionel Messi (Barcelona / 2010). Then also Andriy Shevcenko (AC Milan / 2005), Ruud van Nistelroy (Manchester United / 2004), Dado Prso (AS Monaco / 2003), Simone Inzaghi (Lazio / 2000), and Marco van Basten (AC Milan / 1992).
They, the players who have made quattrick in the Champions League are not just any players. They are mainstay players for their respective teams. Making a quattrick in the Champions League is no easy matter. Only players with above average skills were able to do this.
Likewise with Olivier Giroud. His quattrick when Chelsea faced Sevilla was not a coincidence. Olivier Giroud did it because he was a quality player with skills above average. Although Giroud’s age is no longer a golden age for a footballer, his skill and experience will allow him to compete with Chelsea players and other team players. Frank Lampard may have to keep giving space and trust to Giroud to appear regularly with Chelsea.
ASL
