Denis Zakaria takes a dig at Chelsea after his revival at Monaco
Denis Zakaria has opened up about his ill-fated loan spell at Chelsea, admitting he now feels “revived” at Monaco. He is enjoying the game time he is getting in Monaco, in stark contrast to his fortunes at Stamford Bridge.
Zakaria joined the Blues on loan from Juventus last season but made only 11 appearances in all competitions. He had the purpose of covering for N’Golo Kante, and the agreement included Chelsea’s option to buy him permanently for £30 million.
The midfielder had a rough season on loan at Chelsea, with the midfielder scarcely getting any playing time. But he is now back to his best following a summer transfer to Monaco.
After the conclusion of his loan spell at Chelsea, Zakaria returned to Juventus before finding a new opportunity at Monaco. His fresh start came under the guidance of new manager Adi Hutter, who was keen to reunite with the midfielder. Hutter had previously managed Zakaria during their time together at Young Boys and Borussia Monchengladbach, and the prospect of working together again proved enticing for both parties.
With his steady performances, Denis Zakaria has played an important part for Monaco as they seek Champions League qualifying, appearing in 26 of their 31 games this season.
Speaking with GFFN (h/t Football London) ahead of Monaco’s Ligue 1 game against Brest on Sunday, in which he scored a goal, Zakaria admitted:
“Time in Monaco has done me a lot of good mentally and especially physically. On a personal level, I’ve had a pretty complete season. I’ve been able to play a lot of matches, and I’ve been able to help the team so I’m happy about that.”
“Revived? Certainly. It is never easy to have a season where you play so little. To have a season where I’ve played in almost all of the matches, it’s done me a lot of good mentally and especially physically.”
Zakaria is eager to help Monaco secure their place in next season’s Champions League. Currently sitting second in Ligue 1, the club holds an eleven-point difference from the league leaders, PSG. Their strong position in the table provides them with a promising opportunity to clinch a coveted Champions League spot for the upcoming season.
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Sufficient game time is crucial for the development of every player in all aspects of their game. Denis Zakaria’s experience at Chelsea, where he did not receive enough playing time, was not to his liking. At Chelsea, there is little room for players to prove themselves due to the abundance of young talent in the squad. However, if a player can demonstrate their value to the club before others, they can certainly secure a spot in the starting XI.