Olivier Giroud is looking forward to his Chelsea reunion as he prepares to face his former side in the Champions League.
The Frenchman spent three years in west London, following his move from Arsenal, before leaving the club last summer to join AC Milan. He scored 11 league goals in his first season at the club, helping them to the Serie A title.
He now returns to England with Milan to face the Blues on Wednesday night, with back-to-back fixtures between the two sides set to place a decisive role in what is an incredibly tight Group E.
Milan are in pole position as it stands after picking up four points from their opening two matches, while the pressure is well and truly on Chelsea who sit bottom. A defeat to Dinamo Zagreb and a draw to RB Salzburg is all they have managed up to this point.
“Yes of course,” Giroud responded when asked if he had told his team-mates what to expect at Stamford Bridge.
“But I told them right now when we were walking around the pitch I’m very proud to come here with the great Milan to play the Champions League, to play in our colours and to defend our badge.
“It’s going to be an atmosphere completely worthy of a Champions League game. They’ve played in big games and won big games. But we’re ready for it.”
He added: “I was lucky to go back to Montpellier when I was playing for Arsenal in my first game in the Champions League.
“And today I’m very happy to come back to Stamford Bridge. I want to show how good Milan is, we showed our quality in Italy last season to win the league.
“But now we want to do the same thing and replicate that in the Champions League.
Graham Potter picked up his first win as Chelsea boss over the weekend as Conor Gallagher netted a stunning late winner against his former club Crystal Palace to ensure the Blues did not fall to another frustrating result.
He knows immediate results are needed in Europe if Chelsea are to make it out of the group, with AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli expecting the Englishman to make it difficult for the visitors at Stamford Bridge.
“I know Graham Potter because Brighton played very well and I was following them for a long time,” Pioli said.
“He’s a very good coach, he really has an attacking game plan. It’s true they’ve only played two games with their coach, but he’s changed systems multiple times in those games. So a lot of things have changed.”
