Hakim Ziyech reveals that Chelsea had three teams due to their bloated squad last season.
Chelsea manager Graham Potter has given his verdict on Morocco midfielder Hakim Ziyech and has said that he likes him “as a player”. The 29-year-old has struggled for game time this season.
Ziyech has featured in only nine games for the west London club so far in all competitions and has fallen down the pecking order. The midfielder, who generally plays as a right winger has also struggled to establish himself in the team since making the move from Ajax back in 2020.
However, the former Ajax man received praise from many critics for his phenomenal performance during the World Cup in Qatar. The 29-year-old was one of the best players for his country and guided them to reach an unexpected semi-finals.
The midfielder will return to Cobham with more confidence and further strengthen his claim for a starting role. However, Potter as quoted in the Daily Mail has played down such expectations and has asked the player to “remain patient”.
“He’s been involved in the games and came on in the first game as a sub. We know his qualities, we like him as a player, and he plays between the lines with fantastic quality as we saw in the World Cup.”
“At Chelsea, there are always good players who aren’t in the starting XI and have to be patient. Delighted for him, and kept in touch with him over the World Cup.”
Ziyech has simply failed to live up to the expectations set for him when he moved to west London, two years back. The 29-year-old had played a crucial part in helping his former side reach the semi-finals of the Champions League and did the same again in Qatar for his country.
But Potter has preferred Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount over him. In the midfield, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and Conor Gallagher have been fighting for a place in the starting eleven.
It is possible that things could change given the phenomenal run the 29-year-old had in the World Cup, but it may take some time. The midfielder sees his current contract expire in 2025 and has attracted interest from Italian giants AC Milan.
With a hectic second half of the season ahead, it won’t be surprising to see the Moroccan involved more. If the player can show the same form he has done for the past month, it won’t be long before he cements his place in the starting eleven.
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