Ex- Arsenal ace and Premier League legend Ian Wright has highlighted Hakim Ziyech's change in 'energy' as the reason behind why his form is so different for Morocco than his time at Chelsea.
Ziyech left Dutch giants Ajax to join the Blues in early 2020 and has drastically underwhelmed since his arrival, which in turn has sparked plenty of speculation surrounding a potential exit for the forward in the upcoming January transfer window.
However, those at the top of the Stamford Bridge hierarchy may not be quite so quick to cash in on the 29-year-old after witnessing the kind of performances he is putting in for the Atlas Lions out in Qatar. Ziyech has been in inspired form for his country as Morocco have made history, becoming the first African side in history to reach the last four of a World Cup.
Walid Regragui was only appointed as Morocco's manager weeks before the tournament started, but he has brought the best out of Ziyech and guided the nation far further into the competition than anyone could have expected as a result.
Despite already taking the scalps of both Spain and Portugal, Morocco's next test will certainly be their sternest when they face off with reigning champions France on Wednesday with a place in the final up for grabs.
Wright has praised the national side for their efforts in getting this far and singled out Ziyech for further flattery, while highlighting why the winger is playing so much better than the Chelsea faithful have seen previously.
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"I’m loving Hakim Ziyech at this World Cup, I’m loving him," he said on the Wrighty’s House podcast. "I love the way he’s playing.
"He plays with a different energy when he plays for his country. I watch him at Chelsea and I’m not being negative, but the difference is this man needs it when he’s playing for Morocco.
"Remember he had all those problems with the [previous] coach, he wasn’t playing, then the coach is gone, they got their guy in and look at where they are now."
Wright's sentiments were echoed by fellow pundit and Manchester United legend Roy Keane, who insisted that Ziyech looked like a different player from the one seen struggling at Stamford Bridge over the last two years.
‘Hakim Ziyech seems like a different player – it’s a different environment, sometimes players struggle at club level, but the World Cup and international football can suit other personalities better," the Irishman told Sky Bet.
"Ziyech looks like a big personality for Morocco, and you don’t see that at club level for Chelsea."
