Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech has said he feels “sharp” after Tuesday night’s pre-season win over Bournemouth.
Ziyech missed the start of last season due to a knee injury and also missed games later in the campaign due to a hip problem. He started only 15 times in the Premier League and always caught up due to the nature of his transfer from Ajax in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ziyech admitted in April that he had been fighting for match fitness since joining Chelsea from Ajax / Soccrates Images / Getty Images
Ziyech’s move to Chelsea was confirmed in February 2020, but the abandonment of the Dutch season shortly afterwards and the delayed extension of the English season ensured that he was not allowed to play for several months before ending the summer switch to Stamford Bridge.
He was honest about his fitness struggles during an interview in April and admitted that he played together on his teammates from the beginning.
“Before I came, I had been out for seven months mostly. I came here and started with injuries, so for me it was more that I was already behind everyone physically “, Ziyech explained then.
He has since been linked with a move from Chelsea, but an injury-free finish to last season, an uninterrupted summer break and a proper pre-season have been important steps forward, which made him feel good before the new campaign.
“I feel sharp and I look forward to the next match,” Ziyech told Chelsea TV after meeting Bournemouth in a friendly this week. “I think the days off we had were good for us, everyone looks fresh and you saw it on the pitch because everyone looked hungry there.
“The results do not matter so much at this stage, but of course it is always nice for self-confidence. The most important thing is to get the rhythm back, work on our fitness and get a few minutes in the legs. ”
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