Chelsea’s striker Olivier Giroud has vowed not to quit Chelsea in search of first-team football and has welcomed competition for places in the squad.

The France international has slipped back down the Blues’ attacking pecking order recently but has assured that will not lead to him pushing for a move away from Stamford Bridge.

Olivier Giroud is planning to “stick in there” at Chelsea, with there no plans on his part to push for a transfer despite slipping behind Alvaro Morata in the Blues pecking order.

The 2018-19 campaign is shaping up to be another which sees the World Cup-winning striker face a battle for regular playing time.

Giroud was handed starts by Maurizio Sarri earlier in the season but has seen Spanish team-mate Morata return to form over recent weeks to nail down the role of lone striker

At 32 years of age, and with exit talk having first surfaced over the summer, it has been suggested that he may need a move in January, especially if he wants to stay in contention for the France national team.

Giroud is, however confident his future is at Stamford Bridge, telling Telefoot of his current situation: “I came back late from the World Cup. Morata played.

“With the national team in September, a goal against the Netherlands did me good. After that, when I came back to Chelsea, I played several matches as a starter.

“Today, the coach has introduced healthy competition. Morata started again, he played well.
“It is true that we were having issues in the effectiveness department, he scored and things are going better.”

Giroud added on transfer gossip linking away from Chelsea: “Would I have to consider a departure to keep my place in the national team? I feel like it is as if we are where we were several months ago when I was being asked the same questions before the World Cup.

“Today I am calm, happy with this World Cup title. I don’t need to put myself under more pressure than that.
“Of course, I am a competitor and I would like more playing time. But I am in a very big club, with very big players.
“I am going to fight and for the moment, it is not a question about seeking a departure. I am going to stick in there and do not expect me to give up.”

Giroud has made 12 appearances for Chelsea this season but has only started 4 Premier League matches.

Giroud has just one goal to his name so far, which came against BATE in the UEFA Europa League on November 8.