It's beautiful to see Hakim Ziyech smile again

It’s a common saying in life that, “there are many ways to bell a cat”, and the same can be said of player management in football. Some need the trust of their manager to function, others need to be the main player in a project while others require a bit of a carrot-and-stick approach to get the best out of them. Moroccan winger, Hakim Ziyech is currently lighting up the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and it's a stark contrast to what he does at his club side, Chelsea.

The 29-year-old player often cuts a lonely and forlorn figure in West London, having been reduced to a bit-part role despite his positive displays in the games he features in. However, in Qatar, he’s playing out of his skin and was one of the most impressive players when they defeated one of the tournament favourites, Belgium. Ziyech was mesmeric, offering a lot of quality which must have left a lot of Chelsea fans scratching their heads as to whether the Ziyech they see week in, week out.

Ziyech looks like one player who has a lot of belief in his own ability, which might be translated to pride. He is also a player who needs to play regularly to get into his rhythm. He also seems to have very sensitive esteem, which needs a lot of prodding to get the best out of it. He was heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in the summer, but the exit of Thomas Tuchel was thought to be the re-start of his Chelsea career. The German manager and Ziyech had endured a frosty relationship according to reports, and the exit of Romelu Lukaku, his best pal, was also seen to be a pointer to the fact that he could move.

Under new manager, Graham Potter, Ziyech has played a bit part role as well, often thrown into the pitch when games are well lost, and also in the wing-back position, which limits his effectiveness given his unique skillsets. He is expected to leave Chelsea in January, and won’t be short of suitors. AC Milan is a long-term admirer, and with Chelsea interested in their own player, Rafael Leao, a player plus cash deal involving Ziyech should not be entirely quashed. Manchester United are also said to be interested, given his links to the manager, Erik Ten Hag, during their time together in Ajax.

Say all you want about Ziyech and his application on and off the pitch, but it’s nice to see him enjoying himself again. The Moroccan wizard, on his good day, can pick a pin with his exquisite passing and is also not shy to chip in with goals. Should he leave Stamford Bridge in January, he will not really look back with fond memories, but here’s a player the fan base agree is very good, but probably didn’t have the right treatment to get him at his best on a consistent basis.

THE ODDS

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