Hakim Ziyech is convinced the change in formation under Thomas Tuchel will help him to thrive at Chelsea.
Frank Lampard predominantly used a 4-3-3 system during his time at Stamford Bridge but Tuchel has employed a 3-4-3 set-up in his first two games in charge.
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Ziyech started the 0-0 draw with Wolves but was left out of the matchday squad against Burnley – a decision Tuchel claims was taken to limit the risk of injury.
“Hakim has been in a bit of overload for five weeks so he has a bit of a risk getting injured if he plays more than 30 minutes,” Tuchel told Chelsea’s 5th stand app. “For that we decided to [give him] a break now to go out of the risk zone.”
But the Moroccan could return to the side against Spurs and take up positions between the lines – a role he is confident he can excel in.
“It is a position where I love to play, without the ball having your responsibility but with the ball being free and trying to find space and trying to play football,” he told Chelsea’s website.
“That is what I like the most. Get between the lines, find space, between the lines with the one or two touches. Especially in that position you have a lot of options because is the defender coming out, yes or no?
“If he is not coming you can turn around and find the striker or the left winger or the right winger in space. You have a lot of options.”
Ziyech scored or assisted four times in five Premier League matches between the end of October and early December, but then suffered a hamstring injury in the win over Leeds and missed almost a month of football.
Chelsea suffered in his absence and the former Ajax star hopes he can get a run of games to prove his worth in England.
“The last six months did not go exactly how I wanted to think it would but it is what it is and you still need to keep improving,” he said.
“I had that bad luck with my injury when I came in but still there is time. I know for sure I believe in myself that I can do it and I can reach the same level as I used to have at Ajax here at Chelsea.”
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