Giroud warned about lack of playing time at Chelsea by Deschamps

The Chelsea striker’s situation at his club needs to change if he aspires to remain a part of the national team, suggests Didier Deschamps.

France booked their place in next year’s Nations League finals after grabbing a narrow 1-0 win over Portugal on Saturday.

Anthony Martial started in the Group A3 match ahead of Olivier Giroud. The Manchester United attacker missed several clear-cut chances and was subsequently replaced by the Chelsea forward with 12 minutes remaining.

Once the no.1 choice for his manager, Giroud appears to have fallen down the pecking order under Didier Deschamps lately.

Deschamps admits that he favors Martial for the No.9 position at present while also suggesting that Giroud needs to leave Chelsea in order for that to change.

“I make the choices that seem best to me for the France team,” the France boss said when asked about picking Martial ahead of Giroud, via Goal.

“With Anthony, who is a good player, it allows us to have a little more depth. Compared to Olivier, he has to be impacted, first of all with the situation he has at his club, knowing that he has a large frame and that he needs rhythm, it’s hard.

“That’s not why I want to lose him, it’s complicated, we’ll talk, but obviously he has every interest in it not lasting, for him, to remain competitive, but we must not forget what he did with us and what he is still able to do.”

The 32-year-old striker has played just 154 minutes across all competitions so far this season as he struggles to keep his place in the Chelsea line-up amid competition from Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham.