“I don’t recognise you”- Arsenal legend lifts lid on what he told Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech before 2022 World Cup

Club News: Emmanuel Petit reveals what he said to Chelsea midfielder Hakim Ziyech before World Cup

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has revealed that he told Chelsea midfielder Hakim Ziyech that he did not “recognise him” and that he looked “so miserable”, just before the World Cup in Qatar.

Speaking to Mega Casino (h/t Metro), the former midfielder revealed the conversation that he had with the 29-year-old.

“Hakim, I don’t recognise you. Where is the player we know? Are you going to stay like this forever, sitting on the bench with terrible body language? You look so miserable. You need to come back to the player we saw at Ajax. You’re a world-class player, you need your confidence back. Do yourself a favour and fight. Don’t accept the critics’ reality.”

This conversation happened during the Premier League game against Arsenal in November. The Blues lost the game 1-0 and the Moroccan international did not feature in the match as he remained an unused substitute.

Ziyech has struggled to establish himself in the playing eleven since making a £36 million move from Ajax Amsterdam back in 2020. He could not convince former manager Thomas Tuchel to start him regularly and has failed to do the same with Graham Potter.

However, at the World Cup this year, the midfielder seemed to have found his old form. The 29-year-old, who generally plays as a right-winger, played a crucial part in his side’s historical run in the middle eastern country.

He featured in all their seven games, scoring one goal and assisting the same as he helped them become the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. Their fairy-tale run came to an end as they lost to eventual runners-up France 2-0.

The midfielder earned praise from fans and critics alike and Chelsea fans were left wondering where this Ziyech was for the past two years at the west London club. The 29-year-old has been heavily linked with an exit from the club, with Italy being touted as the possible destination.

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Considering the form he showed in Qatar, it will be wise for Potter to give him more game time to prove his worth. It remains to be seen what happens with the player’s future at Stamford Bridge.