Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has admitted that he wanted to leave the club in the winter.

The Frenchman has found it difficult to endure a season on the sidelines under Frank Lampard.

He has been a bit part player, but he almost helped them against Manchester United on Monday night.

And speaking after the game, Giroud revealed he came close to leaving the club last month.

"I was about to leave," he told reporters after the 2-0 defeat by United.

"From mid-December until the end of January, I found myself between two camps.

"But from February 1, I returned 100 per cent to Chelsea and now I will give my all for the remainder of the season. It's nice to hit the ground running and have this feeling again.

"My personal goal now, is to play as much as possible because I want to take part in the next European Championship with France."