Graham Potter receives a warning from Rafael van der Vaart, who wants Hakim Ziyech to leave Chelsea

Rafael van der Vaart has warned new Blues manager Graham Potter and acknowledged that he “hopes” Hakim Ziyech leaves Chelsea and resumes his career somewhere.

Ziyech has largely struggled at Chelsea following his £33m move from Ajax in the summer of 2020.

The Morocco international has only scored six Premier League goals in 48 appearances and has started just one of Chelsea’s eight games so far this season.

Ziyech came off the bench for the final ten minutes of Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday night and Van der Vaart felt the cameo was further proof that the winger is not happy.

The former Netherlands, Ajax, Tottenham and Real Madrid midfielder told Ziggo Sport: ‘Of course, he never really has a smiley face, but now you can see from everything that he is not having a good time.

‘I hope he goes to a club where he can just play and not worry about anything else. Ziyech is a boy that always has to play when you get him.

‘When you get players, you buy them not only for their footballing qualities but also for how someone is.

‘Then you can say that Chelsea have so many good players, but guys like him do not like to sit on the bench.’

Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw in their second Champions League game of the season and face a battle to qualify for the knockout stages after losing to Dinamo Zagreb last week.

Potter replaced Thomas Tuchel as Blues boss following the Zagreb defeat and Van der Vaart insists the former Brighton boss has a big job on his hands.

‘I think Chelsea are very weak right now,’ he added. ‘There really is a lot of work to be done there.’

Ziyech has been subjected to much criticism this season and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto recently admitted he ‘wouldn’t be bothered’ if the Moroccan never played for the club again.

‘For me, Hakim Ziyech, it wouldn’t bother me if he didn’t play for Chelsea again,’ Minto told talkSPORT.

‘It was difficult for Christian Pulisic coming on but again, he’s another player who has flattered to deceive over the last 18 months or so.’

Former England striker Peter Crouch, meanwhile, identified Ziyech as one of a number of players at Stamford Bridge that are ‘suffering from a lack of confidence’ after the Salzburg draw.

Chelsea were due to face Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday but the Premier League fixture has been postponed ahead of the Queen’s funeral.

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