Chelsea ace Hakim Ziyech stands by past criticism of his former SC Heerenveen coach Marco van Basten.

When playing for the Dutch great, Ziyech branded Van Basten "stupid" after being dropped to the reserves "without explanation".

Back in 2016, he said: "He changed me once at half time in my first season and then put me in the reserves. Without explanation. He didn't communicate at all. I realised at AZ that he was not suitable for it (coaching). He already had that at Heerenveen. Now he is again an assistant with the Oranje. If you know people or have a big name, you will always find a job again. Quality counts for me."

And he told the English press this week: "That was just how I saw it.

"I speak from my heart. I say what my feelings say. They can find what they think. In the end I have always believed in my own strength. It didn't really interest me what other clubs or people thought. Ultimately you have to perform on the field. That's why clubs buy you or not. I also took my time. I didn't necessarily want to change clubs at a young age."