Hakim Ziyech opens up on annoying start to life at Chelsea
Chelsea playmaker Hakim Ziyech has described his start to life at Stamford Bridge as annoying after struggling to make a big impression in his first season at the club.
Ziyech joined the Blues from Ajax in a £33.3million deal this past summer. The Moroccan arrived in West London amid much fanfare as a proven performer in the Champions League but has so far struggled to live up to the expectations.
The 27-year-old has had his fair share of struggles with injuries this season, restricting him to just 8 starts in the Premier League so far. He admitted that staying away from his family and friends has made it difficult for him to adapt to life at the English capital. On top of that, the lockdown has made things worse.
Speaking to Ziggo Sport (h/t Football London), Ziyech has thrown light on his tough start to life at Chelsea and the struggles of coping with the pace and intensity of the English game. The Moroccan told:
“I began with an injury, came back and then got injured again.
“Things have not gone as I had hoped. The pace of the game over here is much quicker than it was at Ajax. I picked that up straight away, and then I got injured in my first training game.
“That sets you back completely and then it happens again. It was bloody annoying.
“I am used to having my friends, and my mum, around me. Being without them has taken some getting used to, and of course, the lockdown has made matters worse.”
Ziyech has now returned to the fold at Chelsea after battling a series of injuries and will be hoping to make significant strides under new manager Thomas Tuchel. The playmaker was handed a start by the German in his first game in charge that ended in a goalless draw against Wolves.
The Moroccan international remained an unused substitute in the 2-1 win over Sheffield United. It remains to be seen whether Tuchel decides to give him an opportunity to prove himself when Chelsea make the trip to Barnsley for the FA Cup fifth-round tie on Thursday.
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Things might not have worked out for Ziyech at Chelsea so far but he remains a quality player with proven pedigree at the highest level. The fans will surely be hoping to see much more of an impact from their star playmaker between now and the end of the season.