Denis Zakaria has given his first set of interviews today, although of course there wasn’t much on pitch action to speak about as he’s not yet played a minute for his new club.
After joining on deadline day from Juventus, the midfielder saw his manager Thomas Tuchel sacked, and new man Graham Potter arrive the next day.
Zakaria has barely had a chance to speak to the new man, as he explained in quotes picked up by the Evening Standard.
In fact, the Swiss says he’s had just one one-on-one chat with former Brighton coach Potter, who has been in place for a month now.
“I spoke with the new coach, but it was the first meeting to see where my position was and to get to know each other. We spoke a little bit and said he likes the style of player I am. In training, he is pushing every player, which is good. At the moment, I need to train hard and be ready for when I have my chance.”
It’s no knock on Potter of course – he’s not been at the club long and has to get to know his entire first team squad, as well as a host of young players, all of the staff and behind the scenes office workers at Cobham and Stamford Bridge too.
The fact that Zakaria was with Switzerland for two weeks of international break since Potter’s arrival won’t have helped either.
But both are now working together again on the training ground, and you can be sure that the new boss will be keeping an eye on the new signing to see how and when he can best use him.
