Ex-Chelsea star names 2 ways Ziyech has improved the squad

Hakim Ziyech has made a great impression recently, but just how has he improved Chelsea? Pat Nevin answered the big question while praising the ‘top class’ star.

Ziyech’s excellent vision and composure on the ball are two things that Chelsea needed, says Nevin, who has been suitably impressed by the star’s recent performances.

A knee injury caused the 27-year-old, who joined from Ajax over the summer for €40m, to miss the start of this season. However, he has made the line-up in the club’s last two games and thrived.

Frank Lampard’s decision to hand Ziyech the first start in last week’s 4-0 Champions League win over Krasnodar was rewarded when the winger scored his maiden goal for the Blues. He then followed it up with another goal and his first assist in Saturday’s 3-0 win against Burnley.

“The one thing over the past week that has knocked me out has been the performance of Hakim Ziyech,” Nevin told the club’s website.

“In two games he has proved to be an even better player than I thought he was, and I thought he was very good anyway.

“That ability to see crucial through balls and be able to play them at the right time and the right pace in between packed defenses is something we really needed to add to our arsenal.

“His pass to Timo Werner for the third goal was an overlooked moment of genius. Anyone from Kevin De Bruyne to Cesc Fabregas would have been proud of that assist.

“It wasn’t his only moment of fabulous vision. The two goals in two games had the look of a natural finisher about them.

“He doesn’t panic when he is in the box, he is in total control of the situation, a sure sign of a very good player.

“The creativity is a given then, but most Chelsea fans and definitely the gaffer will have noticed his work-rate, too. His closing down and efforts to win the ball back high up the field were top class.

“Again I will be honest and admit that I wasn’t expecting that level of work-rate, but it looks very much like the right team spirit is in his make-up and it is not just the early efforts of a new player trying to impress.”