Former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has backed summer signing Liam Delap to succeed at Stamford Bridge, dismissing the notion that the club's number nine shirt carries a curse.
Delap, who recently completed his move to Chelsea from Ipswich Town on a six-year deal, will wear the prestigious number nine shirt that has remained vacant since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's departure.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea's FIFA Club World Cup clash with Los Angeles on Monday, Giroud shared his thoughts on the supposed curse that has affected previous wearers of the shirt.
"When I signed for Milan, Paolo Maldini told me, 'Are you sure about No.9? It's kind of cursed...' I said, 'No, I want the nine!' I showed him there was no curse. [Delap] is very talented. He will be fine," Giroud stated during his pre-match interview.
Chelsea's No.9 Shirt History
The number nine shirt at Chelsea has gained notoriety over the years, with several high-profile players struggling to live up to expectations while wearing it. Aubameyang, Gonzalo Higuain, Romelu Lukaku, Radamel Falcao, and Fernando Torres are among the star forwards who failed to deliver consistently for the west London club.
Interestingly, Giroud himself played for Chelsea but opted for a different shirt number during his time at the club. The 38-year-old French striker, who has also represented Arsenal and AC Milan throughout his career, will now face his former club in the upcoming Club World Cup fixture.
Delap's signing represents Chelsea's continued investment in young talent as they look to build a squad capable of competing at the highest level both domestically and in Europe.
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