Alan Shearer claimed that the winger could have scored a tap-in during the goalless draw with Leeds United– and some Chelsea fans were infuriated by what Hakim Ziyech did instead.
The 27-year-old has always been a creative outlet that is capable of making ridiculous defence-splitting passes.
His performance at Elland Road on Saturday was far from his best, but he still created the joint-most chances on the pitch (three) alongside N’Golo Kante.
However, he often lacks the ability to attack spaces inside the box which is rather surprising considering his incredible vision.
And there was one particular moment during the game against Leeds that demonstrated this particular weakness of him — and Shearer was not impressed.
“Just have a look at Ziyech there on the edge of the box,” the all-time Premier League top scorer told BBC MOTD.
“He should [have] got in there, and he would have had a tap-in.
“[Because Ziyech did not make the run], there is no one in [the box] so they couldn’t put the ball in.
“Eventually they came back then they lost the ball.”
It also frustrated quite a lot of Chelsea fans who were more critical of the lack of desire to make the run than anything else.
Here are a few reactions from some Blues fans on Twitter.
Chronicle view
Well, the thing is, Ziyech is a very complicated player.
He is the type of player that would frustrate you for 89 minutes before surprising you with an outrageous assist from just over the halfway line.
His former boss at Ajax Erik ten Hag already sent Chelsea a warning at the start of the season.
“Sometimes he is a coach’s nightmare — but you have to give him space,” he said in June (via the Metro).
“Hakim is ‘what you see is what you get’.”
Although, when you have not had a goal or an assist for over four months, it is almost impossible to get such a free pass on the pitch.
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