Giroud Impressed By Lampard

By Max Wise

Olivier Giroud believes Chelsea, under their current predicament of being unable to sign new players, have made the right decision in appointing Frank Lampard as the club’s new manager.

Chelsea are serving a two-transfer window ban from FIFA- which they are appealing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport- for alleged breaches in signing under-aged foreign players.

Lampard replaced Maurizio Sarri on a three-year deal last week and he got his first win as Chelsea manager in a 4-0 win over Irish side St. Patrick’s Athletic on Saturday.

Olivier Giroud scored twice in the game and the French world cup winner had some glowing words for his new manager afterwards.

"I like his energy and desire to always improve and win," Giroud told Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

"I think he is the right person. He is basically a Chelsea legend.

"We all believe in his quality to improve the team and with the transfer ban it's a good opportunity for the young players to show what they can do.

"Now we're excited to play the first league game."

Lampard spent 13 years as a player at Chelsea after joining from West Ham United in 2001 for £11m and is the club’s all-time top scorer with 211 goals from 648 appearances.

Lampard won 11 major trophies in his Chelsea career including captaining the side to Champions League and Europa League glories in the absence of John Terry, who missed both finals due to suspension and injury respectively.

Chelsea’s first game in next season’s Premier League is against Manchester United at Old Trafford on August 11.