It might not even be through any fault of the players themselves (it definetely wasn’t the fault of Ziyech), but the destructive situations of Hakim Ziyech and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang last week and the last few days is bound to have a negative effect on the team and in the camp.
We had the Hakim Ziyech situation and his move to PSG breaking down in the final hours, and then we had Pierre Emerick Aubameyang being removed from our Champions League squad and then being dropped from the matchday squad for Fulham.
Chelsea went on to play out a stalemate in that game and although we all know it will still take time for new players to gel etc, there was a bit of a cloud hovering over the game due to these situations mentioned above.
Ziyech was clearly very angry after his move to PSG broke down. He spent all day in Paris taking a medical and agreeing personal terms, for the move to then break down. I don’t think we will every truly know why it actually broke down, because both sides have different versions of the events. But the fact remains it didn’t happen, and it should have happened, and Ziyech, naturally, was going to be fully annoyed about it.
Graham Potter had a conversation with him the day after the move broke down and it did help. However, emotions are emotions and you cannot just plug them up. There’s no way Ziyech should have started the game on Friday night, and I am concerned about what effect this will continue to have on him, and some of the rest of the squad this season. Remember, some of these players are closer to players in the squad more than others, and it could have a knock-on effect.
The same goes with Aubameyang really, he is also is going to be really annoyed about what’s happened. Out of the UCL squad and out of the matchday squad, so he heads off the Milan with his brother for the weekend. I’m sure a lot will be said publicly and it will be played down, but it’s far from an ideal situation, and just like the Ziyech one, is bound to have an effect on the camp in one way or another.
Chelsea need to be collectively all pulling together in the same direction right now, as they desperately search for victories on the pitch.
