Chelsea boss Tuchel delighted for Wembley matchwinner Ziyech: Selection is never personal | OneFootball

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel was delighted with matchwinner Hakim Ziyech after their FA Cup semifinal victory over Manchester City.

Ziyech has been in and out of the first team since being signed from Ajax amid much fanfare last year, and the Moroccan fell out of favour under Frank Lampard and then Tuchel.

But he made the most of a rare chance to prove his value on Saturday with the only goal of the game, and Tuchel was delighted.

"I'm very happy and proud of our performance. We deserved to win against the best manager and one of the best teams," said Tuchel.

"Hakim was very strong against Liverpool and Atletico in the Champions League, but sometimes we have had a different approach with more runners while he is more a dribbler, a passer, a guy who turns in the pockets.

"Decisions are never personal — sometimes it is the players' characteristics. He showed me he is ready when he has come off the bench, and from what I saw in training. That is the most important thing.

"Now come the crucial weeks and nobody can rest on what we have done. We have to keep on going — everybody who is on the pitch needs to deserve to be there and when you are on the pitch, you must play your part 100 per cent and show that you are reliable.

"This is what Hakim did, it is what Timo (Werner) did and what Kepa (Arrizabalaga) did today and I am very happy for them."