Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at 09:33• Daniel Cabot Kerkdijk

Olivier Giroud also hopes to play with Hakim Ziyech next season. The 34-year-old attacker was presented to the media on Monday by AC Milan, the club that has also been associated with the Chelsea playmaker in recent weeks. English and Italian media assure Ziyech is keen on a move to Milan, despite leaving a good impression in Chelsea’s pre-season. The chance of playing time in the uniform of i Rossoneria seems bigger than in London.

“Ziyech is a great footballer,” emphasized the 2018 world champion. “We had a great click, even though we didn’t play many games together. His left foot is great, he has a lot of experience and he is technically very proficient. It would be nice to be able to play with Ziyech again.” Not unimportant: AC Milan and Chelsea have already done business twice this summer. Mercenary Fikayo Tomori made the definitive switch to the San Siro and the clubs also came to an agreement about Giroud.

Ziyech stands out in Chelsea’s season preparation. In the first friendly match against Peterborough, the ex-player of sc Heerenveen, FC Twente and Ajax made a hat-trick and he also appeared at the starting signal in the exhibition matches with Bournemouth and Arsenal (1-2 win in both matches). “I feel great, I feel sharp. It has had a good effect on everyone that we have had some time off,” Ziyech said recently. “We are all ready to show the best of ourselves again. Everyone is hungry and sharp.”

Ziyech’s contract with Chelsea continues for another four years and the club seems to be counting on the Moroccan international for the coming season. However, the playmaker didn’t always have it easy in the first months with Thomas Tuchel, as the manager preferred Kai Havertz or Christian Pulisic in the last five games on the way to the Champions League. AC Milan is still looking for a successor for Hakan Calhanoglu, who made the transfer-free move to fellow city rivals Internazionale.

Chelsea’s first official game of the season will soon be upon us. Next Wednesday, a duel with Villarreal awaits at Windsor Park, in the context of the European Super Cup. Three days later, the first league game against Crystal Palace is scheduled.