Johan Djourou believes Swiss midfielder Denis Zakaria’s lack of play at Chelsea will have taken a toll on his mental health.
Zakaria made a surprise loan move to Chelsea on transfer deadline day from Juventus but, following Thomas Tuchel’s sacking, the 25-year-old struggled to find playing time under the new Blues boss, Graham Potter.
The Swiss international made his long-awaited Chelsea debut against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League earlier this month and impressed, scoring his first goal for the club in a 2-1 win.
He also featured for Chelsea in their 2-0 Carabao Cup loss to Man City a week later, but has yet to feature in the Premier League under Potter.
Despite this, Zakaria was named in Switzerland’s World Cup squad alongside Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji and former Liverpool and Stoke City striker Xherdan Shaqiri. .
Former Arsenal defender Djourou has previously played alongside Zakaria for Switzerland and believes the midfielder could make an impact during the World Cup, given the chance.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, Djourou said: “I think Denis has a lot of quality. He is also a player with a great personality. [He’s] maybe a bit shy and that’s why he maybe struggles because you have to have a certain personality to go against that because I think in training you won’t have no problem for him to show up and give his best.
“But maybe having a conversation and asking questions about why he didn’t have more time and just having that conversation, maybe it’s not in his personality. He doesn’t speak very well. language for now.
“He has a lot of quality but when you don’t play a lot – because he hasn’t played a minute in the league for example but he has played a Champions League game and a Carabao Cup game – it gives you affects a little You got it in your head and your mind [health] is not the best.
“I don’t think he’s at his best mentally right now, but hopefully he gets around it and comes back stronger.
“Hopefully the World Cup could help him. I don’t think he’ll be a starter for Switzerland, but when he arrives he can definitely make an impact.”
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