Less Playable, Van Der Vaart Advises Hakim Ziyech To Leave Chelsea

Judge Ziyech (Instagram @hziyach)

JAKARTA Former midfielder Ajax Amsterdam and Real Madrid Rafael van der Vaart told Hakim Ziyech to leave Chelsea due to lack of playing time.

Ziyech joined the Blues from Ajax in the 2020 summer transfer window. However, he had difficulty shining because of his very limited playing time.

"He's not a cheap smile, but right now it can be seen from everything that he hasn't had a good time," van der Vaart said.

"I hope he goes to a club where he can play and doesn't think about anything else. Ziyech is a boy who always has to play when you get him," he added.

Ziyech was not included in the team's plan when Chelsea were carved by Thomas Tuchel. Under the German coach's tutelage 29-year-old only played 68 times.

That too the majority he came down as a substitute. Ziyech's total minutes of playing in the Tuchel era were 3,558 minutes or an average of only 52 minutes per match.

"When you get players, you buy them not only because of the quality of the football you have, but also of course how the player is," said van der Vaart.

Even though Tuchel has now been sacked, Ziyech's future under new coach The Blues Graham Potter is not yet certain.

New tactician only put up Ziyech as a substitute for Chelsea's 1-1 draw in the UEFA Champions League against Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday, September 14 evening.

At that time Ziyech was included in the match with only eight minutes remaining. The total team player in Morocco has only played 168 minutes for the Blues in all competitions this season.