BLUES ARE ZI REAL DEAL
Lampard can look forward to a genuine run for title with Moroccan wizard Hakim pulling strings
A LEFT FOOT sweeter than a dessert trolley is turning Frank Lampard’s set- piece lightweights into big hitters.
H a k i m Z i y e c h l i t u p Stamford Bridge as Chelsea brushed aside Sheffield United.
A l r e a d y C h e l s e a h a v e produced 14 different scorers this season, and trying to stop them is proving difficult.
And don’t whisper it quietly when shouting from the rooftops is an option – Chelsea are genuine title contenders.
Everyone prattles on about their lack of clean sheets, but at l e a s t t h e y h a v e n’ t b e e n walloped for seven at Aston Villa, shipped six at home to Tottenham or copped a bunch of fives from Leicester.
W h e n o w n e r R o m a n Abramovich finds £ 250million down the back of the sofa to fund a transfer trolley dash, he expects more than window dressing for his investment.
On this evidence, he’s going to get more than pansies and geraniums in his window boxes for decorations.
Z i y e c h p r o d u c e d a masterclass against woodenspoonists Shef f i el d United , pro v i di ng a s s i st s f o r Ben Chilwell and Thiago Si lva’s goals. And nobody has created more chances i n a Premier League game than th e si x
o p p o r t u n i t i e s L a mpa r d ’s Moroccan maestro laid on a plate for his team- mates here.
Chelsea have scored d at least three goals in all l f our games Ziyech h a s s t a r t e d s i nc e injury delayed his admission to the side.
England midfielder r Mason Mount gushed: ed: “He’s a brilliant player. He knows what he can bring to the team with his quality left
foot. The gaffer always speaks about having the competition to keep p our standards high, and Hakim is a worldcl class player.
“We want players o f t h a t c a l i b r e coming in.
“To h a v e 1 4 different scorers has b e e n br i l l i a nt . We need that threat from setpieces, which I don’t think we really had l ast season. This season we’ve definitely worked on that and it’s been working.
“And t o have that many scorers gives us a dif ferent dimension. Teams definitely fear us more.”
Ziyech’s dead- ball delivery and his eye for the killer pass are top- notch and, at £ 37m, Blues manager Lampard has pulled a fast one on his topfour rivals.
He said: “There are some great left- footed players in the Premier League i ncluding Gareth Bale, one of the best players in world football, and we always think of the sweet left foot as a culture.
“Haki m h a s b r o u g h t a different element to our game, and his work ethic off the ball makes him a very complete player.
“He gives us an extra edge and a different threat in terms of coming on to his left foot off the right side.
“Hakim exudes confidence, how much he wants the ball, a nd h e wants t o b e t h e important player who makes the assist, and that has been a big plus.”
Chelsea recovered from the shock of David Mcgoldrick’s early goal for the Blades ( left), who were lucky not to suffer heavier re pri sal s t han t he replies from Tammy Abraham, Chi l wel l , S i l v a a nd Ti mo Werner.
United skipper John Egan said: “Giving away cheap goals is very unlike us.
“We showed last year we are capable of going to top teams and getting results. We need to look ourselves in the mirror.”