Graham Potter ‘making a statement’ at Chelsea after latest Hakim Ziyech twist – pundit
Frank McAvennie has claimed Graham Potter is “putting a statement down” by starting Hakim Ziyech for Chelsea.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former West Ham striker insisted team selection should have nothing to do with the owners.
The 29-year-old missed out on a deadline day move to Paris Saint-Germain when the deal collapsed in the final hours of the transfer window.
The winger has made 16 appearances for Potters side across all competitions and it looked like an exit was on the cards.
But the Morocco international remained at Stamford Bridge and was in the starting XI for the 0-0 draw with Fulham on Friday (4 February).
McAvennie insisted Potter won’t be thinking about Ziyech’s near-exit when selecting teams.
“I think the manager will be saying that is the window shut, every player now has to fight for a place,” he told Football Insider.
“If the manager is anything worth his salt the players he puts on the pitch should have nothing to do with the owners. He sees them everyday, he trains with them and then it is up to him to pick the best team.
“It is a good statement to the owners to say ‘don’t mess about with me’. If those players were not there he could not pick them.
“Everyone would have thought Ziyech would not play again and all of a sudden he has put them in the team. He is showing that he is his own man and at that moment Ziyech was the right player for the job.
“He is putting a statement down and showing he is not scared to drop people.“
In other news, Chelsea branded ‘utter mess’ after ’embarrassing’ latest – ‘Graham Potter has no control’, says pundit.