“I Broke the Curse — What’s Their Excuse?” Giroud Takes Aim at Chelsea No.9 Superstition
“It’s Not the Shirt, It’s the Striker” — Giroud Dismisses No.9 Curse, Backs Delap to Shine at Chelsea
Olivier Giroud has weighed in on Liam Delap’s bold decision to take Chelsea’s infamous No.9 shirt, offering both a warning and a vote of confidence drawn from personal experience.
Reflecting on his own journey at AC Milan, Giroud shared:
> “When I signed for AC Milan, Paolo Maldini asked me on my first Zoom, ‘Are you sure about the No.9? Because it’s kind of cursed.’ I said it’s not about the number on my back—it’s about performance. I took the No.9 and showed him there was no curse because I was doing well.”
Chelsea’s No.9 shirt has long been the subject of superstition, with past strikers like Fernando Torres, Gonzalo Higuaín, and Romelu Lukaku failing to live up to expectations while wearing it. But for Giroud, success is rooted in mindset, not mythology.
> “Being a striker is very demanding. You need character, mental strength, and the ability to keep believing even in tough times. There’s a lot of pressure in that position.”
As for Delap, Giroud believes the 21-year-old has what it takes:
“If he’s got the right mentality, he’ll do well. He’s very talented, and I think the boys will help him settle. So I think he’ll be fine.”
Giroud’s message is clear: the number doesn’t make the player—the mindset does. Now it’s up to Delap to prove it on the pitch.
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