Hakim Ziyech was the celebrated man in the semi-final of the FA Cup match against Manchester City (1-0) on Saturday. In the sixth minute of play, a goal was disallowed by the midfielder, but the goal he scored in the second half on a pass from Timo Werner did count. The English media praised Ziyech, who received a rating of at least eight in the newspapers.
“He played well in the first half and created a lot on the ball,” he opened The Sun the assessment of Ziyech, who received an eight. “It was good that he meant something in order to be able to score. Yet he should have made another goal when he came face to face with the keeper (Zack Steffen, ed.) ”, The tabloid concluded the report with a critical note.
Hakim Ziyech with the goal! ?? After a lightning-fast counter, the left leg puts Chelsea at 1-0 against City ?? The Blues on track for the FA Cup final ??#ZiggoSport #FACup #CHEMCI pic.twitter.com/sLnrlFPHUA
– Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) April 17, 2021
Also the Daily Mail has an eight left for the performance of the former Ajax player. “The Moroccan got a rare starting place and answered with a good performance and the decisive goal ten minutes in the second half after a combination with Werner. He missed the opportunity to score a second goal because of a good save by Steffen. ”
Sports Illustrated even has a nine in store for the game that Ziyech put on the mat. “He is Chelsea’s best and most effective player. The Moroccan silenced the critics by putting in a brilliant performance at ‘number ten’. He made the winning goal and created a lot of danger around Manchester City’s box. ” Furthermore, punctual Football London said that Ziyech, who got an eight, ‘had some great passes in house’ and that he ’caused a lot of danger’, especially in the second act.
In conversation with the BBC Ziyech himself also looks back on his successful performance. “We had a hard time in the second half, but we made that important goal. Before a match you should always have the feeling that you are going to score ”, the midfielder continues, who also indicates that a ‘nice cross’ preceded his ticker. “I’m not in my best shape yet, but I think I’m on the right track. I look forward to the rest of the season, because we are still playing on many fronts: all possibilities are still open ”, Ziyech concludes.
Manager Thomas Tuchel is also pleased with his team’s field play and responds in opposition to the BBC on the goal of the Moroccan international. “It was played out very well. We got away from the pressure thanks to the gears of Mason (Mount, ed.) And Timo (Werner, ed.). Hakim was able to finish and that was a crucial moment. ” Although the coach is of the opinion that Chelsea could have made it easier, he is pleased with “the good mix of possession and defense.”