Rio Ferdinand believes Hakim Ziyech will prove to be the best of the raft of players that joined Chelsea in the summer.
The Blues spent over £200million on some of Europe’s top talent, including the arrivals of German stars Kai Havertz and Timo Werner.
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But neither has had the immediate impact of Ziyech, who after suffering an injury in the pre-season friendly against Brighton in August, has had to wait for his chance to impress.
The Moroccan impressed on his full debut for Chelsea in the 4-0 win over Krasnodar in the Champions League, before being named Man of the Match as he scored and assisted in the 3-0 win over Burnley on Saturday.
And Ferdinand believes of all of Chelsea’s recruits this summer, it’s Ziyech who can be the game-changer for Lampard this season.
“I’m sure at home he’s [Lampard] had a bit of anxiety about wanting to make sure their front players, the ones he’s brought in, play well. That’s pressure,” Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.
“Yes, he’s had a chequebook to be able to throw about. He’s gone out there, he’s executed and got players in but then the pressure mounts. Will the players do it?
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“I think Ziyech, out of all of them, has been the one he’s wanted to bring back most because he brings you that little bit of difference. He brings you that little bit of guile. Havertz has got it but Ziyech is a player.
“I saw him at Stamford Bridge last season destroy Chelsea, I saw him in the Champions League many times last season.
“He’s the person who always looking for that little pass, that little bit of difference, he plays the hard pass, the risky pass that gets you the big reward.
“I’m sure the likes of Havertz, Timo Werner, Tammy Abraham, they are going to want to play with someone like him because he will put chances on a plate.
“Yes, he was Man of the Match at the weekend and Frank waxed lyrical about him after the game, saying he was so pleased to have him back because he gives you something different in the team.
“Chelsea are sixth in the league now after a bit of a stuttering start. They look like a team who are starting to find their feet.
“New signings always take time but Frank is obviously drilling them well on the training field and they are starting to click.
“A 3-0 win away at Burnley is not to be sniffed at.”
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