Chelsea midfielder Hakim Ziyech has described his start to life at Stamford Bridge as 'annoying'.
Ziyech joined the Blues from Ajax on a deal worth more than £35million in the summer and despite impressing in spells - racking up four assists and two goals across all competitions - his form has been hampered by three separate injuries.
The Morocco international will have been hoping to hit the ground running after catching the eye at Ajax, but instead, he has been left frustrated by 'annoying injuries' which have restricted to him to eight Premier League starts from a possible 23.
Speaking to Ziggo Sport about his start to life at Stamford Bridge, Ziyech said: "I began with an injury, came back and then got injured again.
"Things have not gone as I had hoped. The pace of the game over here is much quicker than it was at Ajax. I picked that up straight away, and then I got injured in my first training game.
"That sets you back completely and then it happens again. It was bloody annoying.
"I am used to having my friends, and my mum, around me. Being without them has taken some getting used to, and of course the lockdown has made matters worse.
"On top of that I’ve had to learn how to drive on the other side of the road. I’ve not had any accidents, but it was very difficult at the start."
Now over his latest injury, Ziyech is working under a new head coach after Thomas Tuchel was brought in to replace Frank Lampard.
Ziyech started Tuchel's first game, against Wolverhampton Wanderers, playing 83 minutes as a right-sided attacking midfielder but hasn't featured since and was an unused substitute for Sunday's 2-1 win over Sheffield United.
Asked about the change, the midfielder added: "You know what can happen if results aren’t good enough. It’s not the first time I’ve seen a manager sacked.
"We’ll have to see what type of system he [Tuchel] favours. I don’t mind whether I play on the right-wing or in the middle, just so long as I can play. For me that is the main thing.
"I always have faith in myself. I know what I can do, and I won’t put pressure on myself.
"The best of Hakim Ziyech is yet to come."
