Olivier Giroud 'getting better with age' as Frank Lampard hails Chelsea striker for winner against Rennes

French striker comes off the bench to score decisive goal against Rennes

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  Olivier Giroud is hugged by Kai Havertz after scoring Chelsea's winning goal in their 2-1 Champions League victory against Rennes on November 24. AFP

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  Olivier Giroud, left, scores Chelsea's winning goal against Rennes. AP Photo

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  Olivier Giroud celebrates with teammates after scoring Chelsea's second goal against Rennes. EPA

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  Olivier Giroud is mobbed by teammates after scoring the winning goal against Rennes. AP Photo

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  Olivier Giroud points to the sky in celebration after scoring for Chelsea against Rennes. AFP

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  Olivier Giroud begins his celebrrations after scoring for Chelsea against Rennes. EPA

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  Olivier Giroud is mobbed by teammates after scoring the winning goal against Rennes. AFP

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  Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring Chelsea's second goal. Reuters

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  Olivier Giroud shakes hands with Mason Mount after Chelsea beat Rennes 2-1. AP Photo

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  Olivier Giroud (R) and Christ-Emmanuel Faitout Maouassa shake hands at the end of the match. AFP

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has heaped praise on "great professional" Olivier Giroud after the veteran French striker came off the bench to score a late winner against Rennes on Tuesday.

With the score level at 1-1, after Callum Hudson-Odoi's first half finish was cancelled out by Sehrou Guirassy's 85th-minute header, Giroud leapt above Rennes defender Gerzino Nyamsi to head home the decisive goal in added time.

The 2-1 win at Stade de la Route de Lorient ensured Chelsea secured their passage into the Uefa Champions League knockout stage and retain top spot in Group E, level on 10 points with Sevilla.

Giroud has yet to start a Premier League or Champions League game this season but made his mark after coming on as a second-half substitute.

"Everybody kind of feels from the outside what a great professional he is, how highly-regarded he is by his teammates and myself," Lampard told reporters.

"He's so professional in how he trains and looks after himself that age isn't even a factor for him. He's getting better with age if anything, in terms of how he looks after himself."

Lampard has preferred Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham ahead of Giroud and the striker's lack of minutes prompted France manager Didier Deschamps to tell him to sort out his situation ahead of next year's Euros.

But with Chelsea set to play 10 games in six weeks, Lampard said more game time is in store for Giroud, who is France's second-highest scorer with 44 goals.

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Rennes v Chelsea player ratings

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  RENNES RATINGS: Alfred Gomis - 7, Made an incredible save to deny Mason Mount and was unlucky to see Olivier Giroud score after stopping Timo Werner’s effort. Reuters

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  Hamari Traore - 7, Fought well to keep Werner at bay for large parts of the game and posed a real threat at times. AP Photo

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  Damien Da Silva - 6, Was denied by a good save from Edouard Mendy and made some important interventions. Tried to punch Giroud’s header out but couldn’t manage it. EPA

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  Gerzino Nyamsi - 5, Was very composed whenever he had the ball at his feet, but looked stretched defensively at times and was outjumped by Giroud for the final goal. AP Photo

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  Adrien Truffert - 7, Looked very good in most of his play but couldn’t provide much end product once he got forward. EPA

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  Benjamin Bourigeaud - 7, Had a slow start but grew into the game, showing some real quality with his touch and setting up Sehrou Guirassy’s goal with a great corner delivery. AFP

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  Steven N’Zonzi - 6, Showed plenty of composure throughout and kept the ball ticking along when Rennes had possession. AFP

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  Edouardo Camavinga - 6, The teenager was neat on the ball but didn’t show too much star quality. AP Photo

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  Jeremy Doku - 6, Got at Chilwell and caused him problems at times, but lost the ball to start the move that led to Callum Hudson-Odoi’s goal. AP Photo

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  Sehrou Guirassy - 8, Held the ball up well, drew a fair few fouls and scored a header to cap off an impressive performance. AFP

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  James Lea Siliki - 5, Missed a decent chance and didn’t look like causing much danger during his time on the pitch, with Cesar Azpilicueta getting the better of him. AFP

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  SUBS: Romain Del Castillo (Lea Saliki 63’) - 5, Didn’t do any better than the man he replaced, as he also struggled to have too much of an impact. Reuters

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  Clement Grenier (Camavinga 79’) – N/R, Getting himself booked was the Frenchman’s biggest involvement after coming on. AFP

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  M’Baye Niang (Guirassy 86’) – N/R, Didn’t get many touches of the ball after coming on for a man who had made such a nuisance of himself throughout the match. AFP

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  Yann Gboho (Doku 86’) – N/R, Good experience for the teenager to get on but he didn’t do much. AFP

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  Fiatout Maouassa (Truffert 86) – N/R, Bringing the defender on at the end wasn’t enough to maintain the draw. AFP

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  CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy - 7, Made some good saves and looked solid between the sticks on his return to his former club but had no chance of saving Guirassy’s header. Reuters

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  Cesar Azpilicueta - 8, He may be behind Reece James in the pecking order, but Azpilicueta was superb defensively. Reuters

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  Kurt Zouma - 7, Was largely dominant, but could have done a lot better to deal with Guirassy and prevent his goal. AP Photo

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  Thiago Silva - 7, Showed a lot of authority in his general play and covered his teammates well at times. However, he also could have done more to stop Guirassy. AFP

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  Ben Chilwell - 6, Was impressive for large parts of the game, but there were a few moments of madness and he had to be bailed out by Silva after one shocking pass. AFP

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  Jorginho - 6, Put in a steady performance throughout his time on the pitch, moving the ball well and helping out defensively. EPA

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  Mateo Kovacic - 5, Struggled in the first half but did show improvements in the second before being taken off. AFP

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  Callum Hudson-Odoi - 8, Had a very bright start to the game and scored the goal that got Chelsea into the lead. Reuters

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  Mason Mount - 8, The midfielder provided Hudson-Odoi with a superb assist and was impressive in his general performance. AP Photo

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  Timo Werner - 5, Really struggled in front of goal, wasting various good chances. Was lucky that Olivier Giroud headed the ball in after one of his poor efforts. EPA

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  Tammy Abraham - 7, Didn’t get too many opportunities in front of goal but held the ball up brilliantly, bringing his teammates into the game. EPA

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  SUBS: N’Golo Kante (Mount 68’) – 6, Came into the midfield and put in a fairly convincing display. AFP

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  Olivier Giroud (Abraham 69’) - 7, Gave the Rennes defence plenty of problems before getting up to score the winning goal. AFP

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  Hakim Ziyech (Hudson-Odoi 75’) – N/R, Didn’t provide any moments of magic but got some good touches on the ball. EPA

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  Kai Havertz (Kovacic 76’) – N/R, Made his return to the team and very little has changed, as the German showed great composure on the ball. EPA

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  Reece James (Werner 92’) – N/R, Helped see out the game but that didn’t take much considering how late he came on. Reuters

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Giroud had to be similarly patient last season, but the former Arsenal striker forced his way into the starting XI and his regular supply of goals after football returned from the coronavirus lockdown were crucial in helping Chelsea secure a top four place in the Premier League.

"He offers a lot for us and I keep saying it but the big schedule coming up and the way we play means I will rely on players," Lampard said.

"Thankfully for me he's a player that always keeps the right attitude if he's not playing regularly and I know when I call upon him that he comes in as he did today."

Chelsea, who have won their past six games in all competitions, next take on London rivals - and league leaders - Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.