The Chelsea player who showed Sheffield United to path towards Premier League safety

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard inadvertently provided Sheffield United with a road map towards Premier League survival as he revealed why Hakim Ziyech, the architect of the Londoners’ win over Chris Wilder’s side, has made such a huge impact since arriving from Ajax during the close season.
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Ziyech created six chances and claimed two assists as his team mates beat United 4-1 at Stamford Bridge; a result which saw the visitors enter the international break at the foot of the Premier League table and still without a win this term.

Although Lampard paid tribute to the Morocco winger’s technical skills afterwards, he insisted it was his character and determination to impose himself on games which have enabled the 27-year-old to make a flying start to his career at Stamford Bridge - two qualities Wilder later admitted United must show in abundance in order to haul themselves towards safety when the begin a “very important 10 match run” against West Ham later this month.

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“Hakim has been superb, he breaks teams down who have a low block which we’ve seen out there,” Lampard explained. “But for me, the most important thing is that he has a big personality. I’ve talked a lot about that of late but, for me, that - personality - is a huge thing in football.”

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 07: Hakim Ziyech of Chelsea battles for possession with Sander Berge of Sheffield United : Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesLONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 07: Hakim Ziyech of Chelsea battles for possession with Sander Berge of Sheffield United : Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 07: Hakim Ziyech of Chelsea battles for possession with Sander Berge of Sheffield United : Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Wilder acknowledged United must demonstrate the same conviction and sense of purpose over the coming weeks in order to overcome their difficult start to the new campaign, which has seen them take only a point from their opening eight outings. Although he insisted United’s fate will not be decided by contests against the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City - the two sides they faced en route to the capital - Wilder did confess confidence at Bramall Lane has inevitably suffered because of recent results.

United sensed an upset when David McGoldrick ended Chelsea’s 373 minute run without conceding a goal when he backheeled home during the opening exchanges of Saturday’s contest. But with Ziyech pulling the strings, Lampard’s team equalised when Tammy Abraham converted before Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Timo Werner completed the scoring.

“I think today was our best performance in a complete sense,” Lampard said after watching Chelsea stretch their unbeaten run to 11 in all competitions. “We have to be in this moment though, and keep it going, because of the levels set by Liverpool and Manchester City. We can’t afford to let up one little bit, because of what those two have been doing and will do.”

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"We knew we had to be right on it out there, because otherwise there would have been problems against a team that’s caused us plenty in the past. And we were, I’m pleased to say.”

"United are tough to play against,” Lampard added. “We’ve seen that before and so the attitude and that personality I was talking about had to be spot on. The intelligence the players showed beforehand, including Silva who is also studying and wanting to know about opponents, was a real plus for me.”

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