At Odds With Coach, Hakim Ziyech Refuses To Return To The Moroccan National Team

JAKARTA - Chelsea striker Hakim Ziyech has decided not to return to the Moroccan national team. The decision he took because of a dispute with the coach, Vahid Halilhodzic.

This was revealed by Ziyech during an interview ahead of Chelsea's appearance at the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi. Quoted from the Mirror, the 28-year-old stated that he wanted to focus on Chelsea and would not return to Morocco despite getting support from supporters.

"I understand them (the fans), but I will not return to the Moroccan national team and this is my final decision," Ziyech said as quoted by the Mirror.

"It's clear to me how things are there and I'm focused on what I'm doing and, at the moment, that's my club."

On the same occasion, the former Ajax Amsterdam player also revealed the main reason he did not want to return to Morocco. This is because the team is still being coached by Halilhodzic, who he considers to be lying.

Ziyech was left out of the Morocco squad before the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. After the decision Halilhodzic said Ziyech would not be accepted again, even if he became Lionel Messi.

In addition, the Bosnian coach also accused Ziyech of not wanting to work and not taking being in the Moroccan national team a serious matter.

"In the end, it was a decision he made and you have to respect it. All the lies that came with that were, to me, clear and I will not be returning to the national team," he said.

"I understand and feel sorry for (the fans), but that's the situation we are in," Ziyech concluded.