THE ONLY WAY IS CUP

Ziyech admits he endured a tough start at Chelsea but, with Tuchel at the helm, hopes the season can end in domestic and European glory

HAKIM ZIYECH admits it has been a “difficult” first season at Chelsea.

But the Morocco international believes it could finish in spectacular fashion after motormouth Thomas Tuchel helped the squad learn to laugh again.

Former Ajax playmaker Ziyech, 28, has been beset by injuries in a tough year adapting to English football. But he is enjoying himself under Tuchel, with the club in the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and Champions League, while chasing a place in the top four.

But Ziyech (scoring goals against Sheffield United and Atletico Madrid, above) says he has never come across a manager quite like Tuchel and that has given the whole squad belief they can beat quadruple-chasing Manchester City at Wembley.

Ziyech said: “I’ve never had a coach who has been like this. I think the coaches I had most of the time were more quiet.

“I think that’s good for the players to keep them sharp and that’s most important.

“Most of the time we are playing the game, but he’s also really in it with us. Sometimes it’s good but sometimes it’s emotional and you think like, ‘Ooh calm down’ – but I think it’s good for everybody.

“He comes with new ideas, new plans, and is always coming over to the group – it’s really good.

“Everybody understands and everybody knows what his job is and it works.

“He loves to laugh, but always wants us to work hard and then, of course, we can have fun and stuff like that and enjoy ourselves. But when there has to be work, it has to be serious as well.

“Sometimes he likes to joke, but sometimes he’s serious as well.”

Ziyech (with Tuchel, below) has never been to Wembley, let alone played there. He admits the FA Cup was not really special before he arrived in England and scored in the last round against Sheffield United and played at Barnsley in the fifth round.

The competition has allowed him to get some momentum at Chelsea because it has not really worked out the way he planned. The Dutchborn star arrived last summer and was expected to form partnerships with fellow new arrivals Kai Havertz and Timo Werner. But the trio have rarely played together and Ziyech says English football takes a lot of getting used to.

“It’s been a difficult season. With adaptation and everything around injuries, playing a couple of games then not playing...,” said Ziyech.

“It’s not really the style.

It’s more about the rhythm and sometimes you think you have the rhythm, and then you have a setback.

“So it took some time. I always have to believe in myself, so I’m not really loud about it, but I just keep going and keep working.

“That’s the only thing that I can do, and then the rest will come by itself.”

Former boss Frank Lampard compared Ziyech to ex-Chelsea star Eden Hazard, while he was known by Ajax supporters as the ‘Wizard of Amsterdam’. All Ziyech wants is the fans back in to make up their own minds.

He added: “I’m not comparing myself. It’s nice to hear, but I can do nothing with it. Because in the end we are all different players and what Hazard did here is different level.

“For me, it doesn’t matter really. I just want to play football and enjoy myself on the pitch, and then something will come up for sure, and we’ll see what it is going to be.

“It’s also a little bit weird to play without fans, so I’m enjoying it more when the fans are in the stadium than without.”