MX23RW : Monday, November 25 03:10:40| >> :120:15545:15545:

Frank Lampard heaps praise on Hakim Ziyech following Chelsea debut

Frank Lampard heaps praise on Hakim Ziyech following Chelsea debut
© Reuters
The Morocco winger starred on his full debut for the Blues, finding the net in Wednesday's 4-0 Champions League win at Krasnodar.

Frank Lampard believes Hakim Ziyech's willingness to attempt defence-splitting passes that other players reject can set him apart at Chelsea.

Ziyech starred on his full debut for the Blues, finding the net in Wednesday's 4-0 Champions League win at Krasnodar.

The 27-year-old looks to be approaching full sharpness after a niggling knee injury, leaving boss Lampard purring on his game-breaking potential at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester United v Chelsea – Premier League – Old Trafford
Lampard, pictured, believes Ziyech has the vision to pull off passes others players would not even attempt (Phil Noble/PA)

Morocco winger Ziyech's ability to ghost off the wing and create from a more central role boosted Chelsea's fluidity in Russia, with Lampard suitably impressed.

"When we brought Hakim into the club it's because I'd watched him a lot, and we'd played against them the year before," said Lampard.

"And I knew his qualities that he could play as a winger that gives us real width, but also gives us the clever movements when he comes off the line.

"He can really produce important passes, assist-style passes, or break-the-line passes; passes that he takes on that maybe other players don't.

"So he brings us something certainly different from what we have in terms of style.

"There were glimpses, more than glimpses, of it last night, and they were really positive signs."

Chelsea's £220million summer spending spree has generated a wealth of talent for Lampard, with one of the Blues boss' biggest challenges to work out exactly how to fit together all those moving parts.

The former Chelsea and England midfielder remains unfazed by that task however, insisting that the congested calendar means all managers will be rotating regularly until at least the new year.

"With Hakim, I thought he was really good in Russia, especially when you consider that was his first start for months," said Lampard.

"He hasn't been fit so that was a really big plus from the evening.

"Not just myself but all the managers who are competing in European football at the moment are finding this a really heavy schedule of games.

Lampard will need all his attacking options, including Timo Werner, centre, and Christian Pulisic, right, during the busy schedule
Lampard will need all his attacking options, including Timo Werner, centre, and Christian Pulisic, right, during the busy schedule (Ben Stansall/PA)

"So we do need options, and in the attacking areas we do have options.

"We're also searching for relationships, because some of the newer players are learning about each other and learning how we want to play.

"So I've got no problem with the options at the minute, and the players have to understand that when you play every three days consistent up until Christmas and beyond, then there will be some rotations at times and we'll need everybody."

ID:420389: cacheID:420389:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:14649:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Burnley manager Sean Dyche pictured on October 19, 2020
Read Next:
Burnley boss Sean Dyche frustrated over lack of clarity on takeover speculation
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


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!