3 reasons why Hakim Ziyech will be a failure at Chelsea

Chelsea have already started planning for next season and the signing of Hakim Ziyech is a very big statement. The Morocco international has swapped Ajax for the Blues in a deal worth €44 million, but will not join his new club until the summer.

Ziyech’s move to Stamford Bridge has sparked huge excitement among Chelsea fans as the winger will arrive with a full locker of attributes.

The 26-year-old can dribble, shoot, assist and is a regular on the scoresheet. He scored an impressive 21 goals in all competitions last season and has already netted eight times in the current campaign. A player with such numbers would definitely be expected to light up the English Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.

However, all the above are what is expected in an ideal situation. The downside of this move is that Ziyech is heading into a different league which is pacier and more intense than the Eredivisie.

Below, we take a look at three reasons why Hakim Ziyech could become a failure at Chelsea:

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#3 Wingers struggle in this Chelsea team

Frank Lampard's Chelsea side doesn't play to the strength of wingers

For some reason, no winger has thrived in this Chelsea team thus far. Frank Lampard has a number of wide men in his squad but none has really lived up to expectations.

The likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic have occasionally shown signs of genius but they haven’t been able to remain consistent. Pedro and Willian have also barely had good performances this season, while Mason Mount, when occasionally shifted to wings, largely fails to impress.

The endless strife of the wingers in this Blues team should be a big worry for Ziyech. His style of play may be different from the options that the London giants currently have, but he will need a lot more discipline if he is to thrive in Lampard’s 4-3-3 formation.

The Ajax sensation is the type who likes to dribble and cut in to shoot. However, the current Chelsea system requires players to play through the middle and feed Tammy Abraham with crosses when they find themselves in wide areas.

This is the reason why Pulisic, Odoi and the other wingers have struggled and Ziyech could be the next in line if the system is not tweaked to favour his abilities.

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#2 Intensity of the Premier League and adaptation

Ziyech will have to contend with the high intensity of the Premier League

The Premier League has gained notoriety for burning out new arrivals even before they settle. While the likes of Sergio Aguero, N’Golo Kante, and Cristiano Ronaldo are exceptions, there is a documented database of players who arrived in the English top-flight with huge reputations but could simply not cope.

Take the examples of Radmel Falcao, Diego Forlan, Angel di Maria and, quite recently, Alvaro Morata and Vincent Janssen. Like the aforementioned players, Ziyech will likely endure a tough time adapting to the intensity of the Premier League.

The Moroccan has scored goals for fun in the Eredivisie and is actually an assist machine, having already set up a jaw-dropping 21 goals in all competitions this season. However, those numbers are unlikely to be replicated in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

How quickly he adapts to his new club will be key to his success or failure. We’ve seen players like Alexis Sanchez who starred for many years with Arsenal but could just not adapt after crossing carpets to Manchester United.

Can Ziyech adapt quickly to the intensity of the Premier League? He is likely to give it a try, but a try might not be enough at this level.

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#1 Chelsea’s current philosophy is the exact opposite of Ajax’s

The Moroccan is a system player and might struggle with Chelsea's current style of play

The world was sleeping on Ziyech until last season’s Champions League made sure everyone witnessed his true talents. The Moroccan and his teammates upset the odds and went all the way to the semi-final stage of the competition, even eliminating holders Real Madrid in the process.

For everyone who watched that Ajax team, it was obvious that they played with a clear system and pattern. Having played with each other for so long, the players have built telepathy and chemistry which are currently missing in many teams across Europe.

Moving from Ajax to Chelsea means Ziyech now needs to get himself used to another system of play. While the Dutch giants are set up to attack and attack, Lampard’s Chelsea are a totally different proposition. While the Blues do engage in a fair share of offensive play, they are not as fast on the counter-attack nor do they play through the channels like Ajax.

The football philosophy Lampard is currently overseeing at Chelsea is completely different from what Ziyech is used to at Ajax and that could hinder his success.

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