Pat Nevin has claimed that future opponents will target Chelsea attacker Hakim Ziyech by ensuring he’s made to play down the wing, rather than be allowed to drift in-field to his favoured left foot.
The 27-year-old has been a brilliant addition to the Blues side since returning to fitness from a knee problem that kept him out at the beginning of the season.
He’s delivered back-to-back man of the match performances in the Premier League during wins against Burnley and Sheffield United, as his influence on the team continues to grow.
The right-winger was in stunning form as the chief creator at the weekend against Sheffield United and he provided two assists to secure another three points.
Nevin has admitted that in future opponents are going to have a plan to deal with him:
“If you are an opposition coach the first thing you have to do against him now is a no-brainer, you have to get him ‘shown down the line’ on that right-hand side by the full-back and hopefully the covering midfielder,” Nevin has told the club’s official website.
“It is better dealing with a decent right-foot cross than that vicious, bordering-on-unstoppable left-foot screamer he has in his locker.”
Ziyech, 27, is finally fully fit and showing what quality he’s going to bring at Stamford Bridge, something supporters have had to be patient to see.
It was clear from his Ajax performance last season against Chelsea that he’s a super talent that is so dangerous in the final third and he’s gained elite level experience from his time in the Champions League during recent season, as well as being a key player for the Dutch giants.
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