Hakim Ziyech is confident that he can bring his style into English football despite the warnings he has received about playing in the Premier League and has promised to do “everything in his power” to bring “happiness” to Chelsea fans.
The Blues agreed on a £ 37 million deal with Ajax for Ziyech in February and the 27-year-old forward officially joined the club on July 1st, along with Leipzig striker Timo Werner.
The Moroccan international was first represented in individual training for the first time in Cobham at the weekend and attended the Stamford Bridge grandstands on Tuesday evening while Frank Lampard’s team increased their four best chances with a win for 1-0 on humble Norwich.
Ziyech met his new teammates in the locker room after the win and held an interview with Chelsea’s official website before the kick-off in which he expressed his enthusiasm for starting in West London.
“When you’re a young kid, you always want to play for a big club, obviously in the Premier League,” he told Chelsea TV.
‘When I was young, the players who played here, it was always a great club, so I’m very happy and it means a lot. I was playing in Heerenveen as a young man and here I was playing [Didier] Drogba, Lampard, [John] Terry, all those big names.
“We have always been to Chelsea, and if you look at it now, if you can play here it means a lot to me.”
About the meaning that Lampard’s presence had in his decision to join Chelsea, Ziyech said, “It was important in my decision, of course.
“I always said I like the style of play he is using now and offensive play has been an important part of my decision to come to Chelsea for me.”
Ziyech is ready for the physical challenges that arise in playing in the Premier League and says that his intellect on the football field compensates for his small stature.
“I’d like to bring my style of play which I’ve shown in recent years with Ajax,” he continued.
‘Just keeping the same style and we hope they can appreciate it and of course I hope to help the team as much as possible.
‘People always tell me that the Premier League is a tough competition. Sure, I know, but I think they always said “physically you’re not ready” and things like that.
“But if you see the competition and how many people have the same body like me, football is just playing with your head, being smart and creating spaces and it’s always in the little things.”
Asked if he had a message for Chelsea fans, the former Ajax star added: ‘I can’t wait to play here and I’m excited.
‘For me, it’s not fast enough to get started.
“I am waiting a long time for this moment, four or five months, but it has finally arrived and I will do everything possible to make everyone happy.”
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