Frank Lampard and Hakim Ziyech during their time together at Chelsea. (imago Images)
Speaking to Stadium Astro (h/t football.london), former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot suggested that Thomas Tuchel does not ‘understand’ Hakim Ziyech as good as Frank Lampard did.
The Moroccan winger was signed by Lampard for a fee rising up to €44m in the early months of 2020 and joined the team for the 2020/21 Premier League season. (h/t The Guardian)
And Melchiot thinks that Lampard understood the former Ajax player better than Thomas Tuchel, who took over the managerial helm at Stamford Bridge in Janury. The 27-year-old featured regularly for the Englishman whenever he was fit.
“He doesn’t always get the opportunity. I think Frank [Lampard] understood him better, he wanted him and went after him.”
But under Tuchel, the former Blues defender says that Ziyech is not getting the opportunities. And once the rhythm goes away, it is tough for the player to perform consistently at his best level.
“I think it comes down to rhythm. If you don’t play that often, when you get your opportunity you have got to grab it.”
And he suggests that Chelsea must find out what Ziyech’s strengths are if they want to see him thrive in England.
“At Ajax he would cross the ball so many times and there were players on the end of it. They [Chelsea] need to understand what his strengths are because if he can deliver that and really master that, it could be something special, if not then it becomes tough.”
He added that Ziyech would not like coming off the bench so often as he was a regular starter during his time in the Netherlands. Ziyech has started just 4 Premier League games under Thomas Tuchel so far.
But he would be hoping that he can get more starts now as the season enters into the business end. Ziyech was present in the starting XI in the 0-0 draw against Leeds United this Saturday.
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