Graham Potter’s Chelsea: Where will Hakim Ziyech play?

The Moroccan is know to like to start on the right and cut inside if he feels like it. His passing skills and position at the right wing flank gives him several passing angles. Playing down the right flank also means he ensures he receives the ball in very good starting positions. On the left wing his passes are all telegraphed, and he’s half as effective because his passing angles are significantly fewer.

When Ziyech picked up the ball against Salzburg he had the option of slipping the ball to a player running down the right half-space, which he did. He had the option of slipping the ball to a striker running in behind, which he tried to do several times. He also had the option to swing an in-swinging cross to someone at the far post, which he tried to do as well. In addition to these, he also had the option of dribbling to the byline.

In addition to the passing options, he has the benefit of being temporarily out of sight of the centerbacks, allowing the Moroccan to drift into the box and get into very good goal-scoring positions, which he did, three times. The difference between Potter’s wingbacks and Tuchel’s wingbacks is that the current boss’s wingbacks can also be inverted wingers who can also cut inside. This allows him more options on who he can deploy there and getting several runs in that right wingback role would give the ex-de Godenzonen star a platform to do more of what he’s good at, from where he’s more effective.