New Chelsea signing Hakim Ziyech insists he is ready for physical demands of Premier League football

New signing Hakim Ziyech was at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday to watch Chelsea beat Norwich in the Premier League
Chelsea/Twitter
Giuseppe Muro15 July 2020

New Chelsea signing Hakim Ziyech insists his body will cope with the physical demands of the Premier League.

Ziyech has joined Chelsea from Ajax for £38million and was in the stands at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night to watch the Blues beat Norwich 1-0 in the top-flight.

The 27-year-old has started training separately at Cobham this week and says he cannot wait to get started next season.

Critics have questioned whether Ziyech’s slight frame is cut out for the rigours of English football, but the Moroccan international is confident he will cope.

Speaking to the club’s official website in his first interview as a Chelsea player, Ziyech said: “They always told me the Premier League is a tough competition. I know it is. They always said physically I am not ready and stuff like that.

"But players have the same body like me, and football is just playing with your head, being smart and creating spaces. It is always in the small things.

“It means a lot to be here. When I was a young guy you always want to play for a big club. When I was young, the players that played here, it was always a big club so I am very happy.

In Pictures | Chelsea vs Norwich City | 14/07/2020

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"When I was in the youth team at Heerenveen and [Didier] Drogba was here, [Frank] Lampard, [John] Terry, all those big games. Now to play here, it means a lot to me.

“I cannot wait to play here and I am excited. I waited four or five months for this moment but it is finally here and I will do everything in my power to make everybody happy.”

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