Hakim Ziyech is delighted to open his account at Stamford Bridge and has rated Chelsea’s chances in the Champions League.
Ziyech is pleased to have played his part as Chelsea edged Atletico Madrid to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Morrocan forward extended the Blues’ lead in the first half before Emerson Palmieri scored late on to make it an eventual 3-0 aggregate win for the west London side.
Ziyech combined brilliantly with Havertz and Werner for his first goal and says he was waiting to open his account at Stamford Bridge for a long time.
“It was an important goal and I had to wait a long time for it,” he said as per the club’s website.
“We took the ball well in midfield and we used it in space and it was a good delivery and it was a good finish. It is always a good feeling when you go 1-0 in front and especially when you score it yourself, and the delivery for Timo was good and the pass from Kai before as well.”
“It was a good counter-attack and we knew for our game there was a bit more space and there was calmness in our game, and it came at a good moment.”
Ziyech also hailed his connection with fellow summer signings in Kai Havertz and Timo Werner.
“Kai and me, we know Timo’s game and try to use him in the space because we know he is really fast, and we did it well in this game,” he added.
“There were some difficult moments in the game but most of the time we had it under control. It was a little bit like seeing how the game would go in the first 10 minutes and then after 10 minutes we had the control and played our game and we did well.”
“It is a big win, an important win, and I think at this moment everybody in the world who supports Chelsea is happy.”
The Champions League draw is on Friday and the Blues will be feeling confident as they await their next opponents, at least manager Thomas Tuchel thinks so.
Speaking further on Chelsea’s chances in the competition, Ziyech added: “We are in a good way and we need to keep improving and play like this, and I am sure then it will be a good season.”
“In Champions League you never know what can happen. The most important thing is we all know we give our best in all the rounds and every game we play, and that is the only thing we can do. In the end we will see but of course if you are still in it, you have to try to go forward and that is what we do.”