MX23RW : Saturday, November 9 02:07:27| >> :120:13163:13163:

Thomas Tuchel backs Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech to play vital creative role this term

Thomas Tuchel backs Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech to play vital creative role this term
© Reuters
The Blues boss has hailed Hakim Ziyech's pre-season form, tipping the Morocco forward to regain that level in a flash once past his recent shoulder problem.

Thomas Tuchel has backed Hakim Ziyech to play a vital creative role at Chelsea this term.

The Blues boss has hailed Ziyech's pre-season form, tipping the Morocco forward to regain that level in a flash once past his recent shoulder problem.

Ziyech could even be fit to feature in Sunday's Premier League trip to Arsenal, having returned to training this week.

Premier League Package 2021 – 2022
Thomas Tuchel, pictured, has backed Hakim Ziyech for a big role at Chelsea this season (Kieran Cleeves/PA)

The 28-year-old had been linked with a loan move away from Stamford Bridge, but Tuchel insists the former Ajax star's best days are still ahead of him in west London.

Assist king Ziyech's ability to tee up goals could prove perfect for £98million new hitman Romelu Lukaku, with Tuchel excited by the prospect of the two men working in tandem.

"Any partnership could be very promising when Hakim plays on his high level," said Tuchel.

"I think Hakim was very promising in pre-season. He had some very good matches last season also some difficulties and hard decisions from me to take.

"But the pre-season was very promising and pretty impressive from him. The attitude with which he arrived here was absolutely the right attitude to grow and to show personality, and this is what he did.

"He was fantastic from day one. He was decisive in every single friendly game we played and he was decisive in the first competitive game, in the final against Villarreal."

Ziyech's neat finish put Chelsea in the early driving seat with a 1-0 lead in the UEFA Super Cup against Villarreal, before he trudged out of action having fallen awkwardly on his shoulder.

The wily winger has hit top creative form after a productive pre-season, and Tuchel is determined to coax the best out of one of the continent's most inventive players.

"Very, very unfortunately he got injured so now we need to take care of it," said Tuchel.

"Because on one side we are very happy that he's back on the pitch, on the other a shoulder injury can be a bit tricky.

"The good thing is with a shoulder injury you can still run and you can still keep your fitness, so you don't lose too much of that. And yes, he'll have many training sessions in his legs.

"And from then on, once he gives the green light and feels totally free, hopefully he can find his performance level from this season very, very quickly. Because that can be very important for us."

ID:460286:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4843:

Click here for more stories about Thomas Tuchel

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Tottenham Hotspur's Tanguy Ndombele celebrates scoring against Sheffield United in the Premier League on January 17, 2021
Read Next:
Bayern 'interested in Tolisso, Ndombele swap deal with Spurs'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!