Former Chelsea boss Avram Grant has backed new Blues recruit Hakim Ziyech to make a big impact during his first season in the Premier League. The Morocco international joined the West London club from Ajax during the summer transfer window for a fee of around £36 million, and has made a strong start to life at Chelsea. He starred during Saturday’s 4-1 victory over strugglers Sheffield United and has been tipped for great things by Grant. The Israeli boss, who last managed Indian side NorthEast United in 2018, said that he is backing Ziyech to be the “sensation of the year” at Chelsea. Grant also revealed that he expects the club to be fighting for the Premier League title this campaign thanks to their hard work in the transfer market.
Avram Grand said “Frank will be a very good manager – now he is a good manager – but with the experience because he’s an intelligent guy, He has a good brain for football, he knows the game, he’s played under a lot of coaches, [and] each one gave him a different perspective. Even people say he is young: he didn’t start immediately in Chelsea – he was one year in Derby. He did a good job. And last year, with the transfer ban, was a good experience for him. So I see Frank developing. And it’s a good idea for Chelsea to take a coach who will develop himself and the team at the same time. You see the results now, what Chelsea have done this year. They did a very good job in the transfer window, and no doubt they will fight for the championship. I’m sure about this.”
