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Three big questions: Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech and making magic

By Travis Tyler

Chelsea's Moroccan midfielder Hakim Ziyech (L) vies with Brighton's English midfielder Solly March and Brighton's Belgian midfielder Leandro Trossard (R) as socially distanced fans watch from the stands during the pre-season friendly football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Chelsea at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on August 29, 2020. - The game is a 'pilot' event where a small number of fans will be present on a socially-distanced basis. The aim is to get fans back into stadiums in the Premier League by October. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's Moroccan midfielder Hakim Ziyech (L) vies with Brighton's English midfielder Solly March and Brighton's Belgian midfielder Leandro Trossard (R) as socially distanced fans watch from the stands during the pre-season friendly football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Chelsea at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on August 29, 2020. - The game is a 'pilot' event where a small number of fans will be present on a socially-distanced basis. The aim is to get fans back into stadiums in the Premier League by October. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s Moroccan midfielder Hakim Ziyech (C) runs with the ball during the pre-season friendly football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Chelsea at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on August 29, 2020. – The game is a ‘pilot’ event where a small number of fans will be present on a socially-distanced basis. The aim is to get fans back into stadiums in the Premier League by October. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s Moroccan midfielder Hakim Ziyech (C) runs with the ball during the pre-season friendly football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Chelsea at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on August 29, 2020. – The game is a ‘pilot’ event where a small number of fans will be present on a socially-distanced basis. The aim is to get fans back into stadiums in the Premier League by October. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /

3. Can he be a talisman when the squad needs him?

It would be wrong to say Ajax’s recent resurgence has been anything less than a team effort. Their movement on and off the ball is what makes the entire team click, not any one player. But if there was one player they would turn to if they were in a jam, it would have been Ziyech.

Ziyech is a magician on the ball. He tries passes that may seem risky to some, but to him they are merely steps ahead. If that translates to the Premier League, Chelsea will be able to create chances from nothing.

That is not to mention that his movement is often as creative as his passing. He will immediately become one of the most magical players the Blues have to play. Add in set pieces and Ziyech can turn nothing into a chance.

The Blues have always needed these talisman players to pull them out of the hole they dig themselves into sometimes. Eden Hazard spent basically his last three seasons doing it. Willian did it in 2015/2016. Cesc Fabregas did it constantly the season before that.

Chelsea used to trip over players like this. Didier Drogba or Nicolas Anelka were almost always good for a goal. If they weren’t, Frank Lampard would burst from deep and do what he had to do. The Blues are looking to recreate that type of squad and Ziyech can very much be a part of it.

It won’t be easy of course. Just ask Hazard how being a talisman at one club translates to another. But Ziyech has a point to prove and the potential to do it. If Timo Werner and (hopefully) Havertz can join in, the Blues will be able to pull points out of thin air week after week.

Next. Three big questions: Chelsea's Emerson and narratives. dark

What questions do you think need to be asked of Ziyech ahead of the new season? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!

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