Boudewijn Zenden has urged the club to give Hakim Ziyech time to adapt at the club.
Ziyech joined the Blues in a big-money move from Ajax last year as the first arrival of a big summer rebuild at the club.
He arrived with a big reputation after starring for the Dutch giants for several years in both the Eredivisie and Champions League.
He has struggled to find his best form in London, though, failing to impress under either Frank Lampard or Thomas Tuchel and managing just five goals and four assists in 34 games so far.
That contrasts sharply against the 49 goals and 81 assists he managed in 165 games for Ajax, leading to suggestions he could be moved on this summer.
Zenden believes that would be a mistake, though, urging Chelsea to give Ziyech time to adapt to life in England.
“But give the boy some time,” he told De Telegraaf.
“They are not problems. I think adjustment time is rather normal. You have to make yourself familiar with a number of things at a new club.
“It is only a problem if you do not reach your old level after two years. Or if you want to return to the Netherlands after six months because you miss your cheese sandwich.
“At Chelsea, he not only had to deal with a new style of play and different teammates, but now he was also in another country, another culture and – do not underestimate – another, much more intense competition. Even though you’re 27, that just has an impact.”
A key issue for Ziyech since arriving at Chelsea has been finding a place in the systems employed by both Lampard and Tuchel.
Arguably his best position is as a number ten behind the striker; indeed, that’s the role he played most at Ajax, but that has caused issues at Chelsea, where both Mason Mount and Kai Havertz are also vying to play in that role.
Both players, particularly Mount, have been more deserving of a start while under Tuchel; the system simply doesn’t fit a player like Ziyech.
This is something Zenden has also noted, believing the German’s tactics don’t help.
“Since Tuchel’s appointment, Chelsea also get very few goals against,” he added.
“The three up front have to make the difference, but they are fairly far away from the opponent’s goal. At Ajax, he was much higher up the pitch.
“Tuchel is also very demanding on both sides. The strikers will have to deliver upfront and do some defensive work.
“Those are conditions for a place in the starting line-up. Under Tuchel, a player has to be pretty complete. I’m not saying Hakim can’t score goals, but he’s more of a serviceman.”
