Hakim Ziyech had a starting place in Chelsea’s home game against relegation candidate West Bromwich Albion on Saturday afternoon. For the attacking midfielder, however, the duel at Stamford Bridge lasted only 34 minutes. Manager Thomas Tuchel decided to take Ziyech to the side after the red card for Thiago Silva after almost half an hour of play. With the input of Andreas Christensen, defensive security was built in by the German coach.
Things went wrong for Thiago Silva in the 29th minute of the home game of the Blues. The central defender wanted to block a shot from Okay Yokuslu just outside his own penalty area, but the Brazilian committed a foul. Referee David Coote was relentless and drew a second yellow, and thus a red card, for the veteran. It is the first time since 2013 that he has received a red card. The last time was during a match of Paris Saint-Germain, now eight years ago.
– vidfooty (@ vidfooty1) April 3, 2021
Tuchel intervened a short while later, with Ziyech having to give up his place to Christensen. Just two minutes before the red card for Thiago Silva, Chelsea had taken the lead against the low flyer. Christian Pulisic has scored his first goal for the London club in twenty games. In injury time of the first half, Chelsea’s ten gave away the minimal lead. Matheus Pereira brought West Bromwich to the same level and even scored 1-2 in the fourth minute of injury time. the Baggies.
Ziyech had just returned to a starting place at Chelsea, after Tuchel had placed him on the bench in the last game before the international period, the duel with Sheffield United (2-0 win) in the FA Cup quarterfinals. The midfielder then signed as a substitute for Chelsea’s second goal in the final phase. Ziyech then played twice for Morocco in the qualifying cycle for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar: a 0-0 draw against Mauritania and a 1-0 win over Burundi. In the last game, the former Ajax player came within the lines as a substitute.
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