Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech has been accused of losing his focus on the club after agreeing a move to Chelsea.
After their impressive run in the Champions League last season, the Dutch side are having an altogether tougher campaign this time around.
This year they were knocked out of the competition at the group stages, while they also suffered a shock defeat to Getafe in the Europa League.
They have received plenty of criticism as a result, particularly after recent defeats to AZ Alkmaar and Utrecht, the latter in the KNVB Cup.
The forward hasn’t managed a goal or an assist since the deal was announced midway through February and according to journalist Henk Spaan, that’s because his head is at Stamford Bridge.
“Ajax have had many injuries and opponents now have a good eye on how to fight them,” he told NOS.
“We saw that against AZ and Utrecht. The upcoming transfers also play a role.
“Hakim Ziyech has signed with Chelsea. He is actually gone already.
“That affects the psyche. It seemed against Utrecht that he did not have the motivation on Wednesday.
“Always when there are transfers or rumours at Ajax, it is a little less.
“Tell me a European top club where a player has already been sold for next season. That has something to do with the group process.”
