Hakim Ziyech will have to get used to being fouled a lot when he arrives at Chelsea, warns former Blues defender Mario Melchiot.
Ziyech is easily regarded as one of the finest wingers in the game and has made a real name for himself with Ajax over the past few seasons, but he has decided that a move to the Premier League will help take his game to that next level.
But Melchiot believes Ziyech will turn out to be a hit in the Premier League, but he will need time to adapt, specifically to the physicality of the English game.
‘In Holland, you have tough games, but in England they come back-to-back – and back-to-back again,’ Melchiot told Goal.
‘The games are tougher and you get fouled a lot. If he manages to get through that, then he will be fine. I think he will do well.’
‘He always wants to show his ability on the ball because he is very technically gifted. He also sees things a lot of players won’t see,’ continued Melchiot.
‘It took some time for him to show his quality at Ajax but once he got himself in the team, he became maybe their most important player. ‘So, I like him a lot and why I think he will do very well at Chelsea.”