Feyenoord great Wim van Hanegem is baffled by Chelsea's treatment of Hakim Ziyech.
Van Hanegem was commenting after seeing Ziyech again start on the bench for victory at West Ham on Saturday. Ziyech did the same last night for their 1-1 draw at Real Madrid for the first-leg of their Champions League semifinal.
Van Hanegem doesn't understand the thinking of Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel given the way he sets up his team. The Dutchman arguing that Ziyech would be the ideal playmaker to take advantage of the pace Chelsea boast.
Quoted by Voetbalzone, Van Hanegem told AD: "I just don't understand that he doesn't play.
"Ziyech is the ideal player to send fast guys away. (Timo) Werner is fast, but that trainer (Thomas) Tuchel wants to do it all differently.
"While at Paris Saint-Germain he found a way to use all the creative players."
However, Van Hanegem says Ziyech shouldn't be seeking a move away just yet.
He added, “I would look at it for a while. If this boy gets a fair chance, he'll take it."
Van Hanegem, now 76, is a Feyenoord legend, having played almost 250 games for the Rotterdam giants and also coaching them for three years. The former Holland international also was a member of the team which lost the 1974 World Cup final to Germany.
- updated April 28
