Peter Henry
Earlier this week Chelsea announced a deal that will see exciting Ajax winger Hakim Ziyech move to Stamford Bridge this summer, but one of football’s most innovative coaches Tony Pulis has urged caution over the signing of the highly-rated 26-year-old.
62-year-old Pulis is seen by many as one of the true pioneers of the modern game, and is often credited with being the man who took the Route One™ style of play to another level, also having perfected tactics like playing four centre-backs and deliberately keeping the ball in play for as little time as possible.
The streets will never forget…
The epitome of Stoke’s shithousery. Could watch it all day. Need it back ? pic.twitter.com/L1jRdDf9t7— ????? (@PrimeHendo) February 11, 2020
The man with the magic cap, of course, knows a thing or two about judging the ability of talented wide players, having deemed Germany international Serge Gnabry as not good enough for the Premier League during their time together at West Brom, and instead picking the likes of James McClean and Callum McManaman over the Bayern winger.
Despite Ziyech ripping it up both domestically and in the Champions League for Ajax over the last couple of seasons, Pulis reckons Frank Lampard needs to be careful that the Moroccan international does not become another high-profile Eredivise flop.
“I just think you’ve got to be very, very careful,” Pulis told Sky Sports The Debate.
“Dutch football is not Premier League football.
“For all what he’s done and what he’s achieved and if they’re spending that much money you hope and pray that you get it right, but there’s different levels and there’s different levels in respect of the European leagues.
Hakim Ziyech has been directly involved in 47 Goals in 47 Eredivisie games since the start of last season
? 47 Games
⚽️ 22 Goals
?️ 25 Assists⏱ Mins Per Goal or Assist: 82 #CFC #Chelsea pic.twitter.com/r3UwFC67uh
— Premier League Statman (@EPLStatman) February 13, 2020
“The Dutch league is a good league, Ajax were fabulous last year and they’ve been good this year, a good group of players and they’ve been unbelievable in respect of bringing good players through.
“But the Premier League is a different animal to the Dutch league.”
Pulis is currently without a club after being sacked by Middlesbrough at the end of last season, although fans of free-flowing attacking football everywhere will be hoping to see him and his white-on-white trainers back in the dugout sooner rather than later.
Read – Checking in on how the five stand out players from Ajax’s superb 18/19 UCL run are doing this season
Read Also – Five Premier League players counting down the days until the summer transfer window
Check out our new 90’s Football Hall of Fame Podcast on Spotify