Hakim Ziyech is only just returning to action after injury, and still has yet to start a competitive game for Chelsea, but it’s not been a long time since the deal was agreed to sign him, way back in the spring.
It sounds like Frank Lampard was instrumental in greasing the wheels of that particular move, as Ziyech explained on a conference call press conference today.
Oliver Harbord of Football.London was on the call, and he recorded the winger’s words as he explained how he’d come to choose Chelsea over other options. “From that moment it was clear for me,” Ziyech said of his conversation with the Chelsea boss.
On speaking with Lampard: "We spoke on the phone. The way he was speaking about the game impressed me. I came from Ajax, who like to play football, he was just speaking about that and his idea of the game. From that point, it was clear for me." #cfc
— Oliver Harbord (@ojharbord) October 22, 2020
Many have questioned some of Lampard’s decisions this season, but there’s no denying the enormous pull power he has in terms of attracting signings.
It seems he sold the vision of beautiful football to Ziyech. Now it’s time to start tying the whole project together with some solid results. A first competitive start for the former Ajax player will only help with that.
