Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel provides update on Hakim Ziyech injury as Moroccan misses Arsenal clash
Chelsea may have got their season off to a winning start against Crystal Palace but they had to do so without one of their key men.
Hakim Ziyech looked set to take the Premier League by storm this campaign following several impressive pre-season outings.
Hakim Ziyech picked up a shoulder injury during the Super Cup win over Villarreal.
The Moroccan had struggled with form and fitness during his debut season at Stamford Bridge and had been linked with a summer exit.
Yet, he seemed to have forced his way into Thomas Tuchel’s plans after he started and scored against Villarreal in the Super Cup.
But Ziyech exited the Belfast contest in a sling after netting the opener as an innocuous challenge and fall took the attacker out of the game.
The 28-year-old missed the 3-0 win against Crystal Palace on Saturday, with Chelsea treating the shoulder injury cautiously.
However, Blues boss Tuchel gave a positive diagnosis on Ziyech ahead of the match as he confirmed the former Ajax star will not need surgery.
Tuchel said: “The decision is made, it will be treated conservatively.
“In the moment the situation is like this that we don’t need the surgery, which is very, very good news for this kind of problem.
“We hope it continues like this and he can be back on the pitch in the next two weeks. We cannot promise but this is what we hope.”
Ziyech is now expected to be back in time for Chelsea’s clash at Liverpool on Saturday, August 28.
In his absence, Christian Pulisic came into the Chelsea side on Saturday to partner Timo Werner and Mason Mount in attack.
And the American seized his opportunity with a goal in the 3-0 victory with Kai Havertz also appearing as a second-half subsitute.
Romelu Lukaku’s arrival as the club’s new striker will add to Chelsea’s stacked front line meaning Ziyech may face a fight to reclaim his spot.
