Lamps lit up by Ziyech’s fitness fight
FRANK Lampard says it’s frustrating waiting for Hakim Ziyech to reach peak fitness.
The Morocco international arrived at Chelsea with a knee injury that he has finally recovered from. He has been able to come off the bench for two brief Premier League appearances so far.
He has also managed to play half an hour for his nation in the last round of friendlies. Now he could be ready to make an impact at Stamford Bridge — if he can get more game time.
Lamps said: “It’s very difficult. We have a bubble at Cobham. We cannot play against the under 23s or bring over a lot of kids to replicate 11v11 games on bigsized pitches, which is generally where you would want someone to work when they’ve not played for six months off the back of an injury.
Patient
“So we miss that. We just have to do the best we can, train as well as we can, find the right way to give Hakim minutes and others in the squad because a few signings did come in with different issues, and try to do that as quickly as we can. It’s a big challenge.
“Hakim has confidence about him, his fitness is coming, he still needs time to get his actual match fitness.”
Lampard is impressed with how patient Ziyech has been.
And with how he’s handling the move to the Premier League along with the likes of new goalie Edouard Mendy who have also
arrived from Europe and had niggling injury problems.
Both now look close to full fitness.
The boss added: “When I look at squad always want to help grow the idea of leaders in the group.
“Personalities within the group. Over the course of long, difficult seasons when we play so many games there will be moments when you really rely on them to help you in tough times.
“I don’t think you can get on in any elite team sport without people with personality and character in your team.
“I’ve seen that in Hakim and I’ve seen that in Mendy, as soon as they came through the door.
“Both of those will be great additions on that front and I encourage personality, I encourage conversations between the players.
“We need more of them.”