Has Ziyech’s performance drop affected Ajax’s efforts?

Ajax have become an extremely balanced team with plenty of talent in the squad. It is not a coincidence that they reached the Champions League semi-finals and are still in the Eredivisie title battle. One of the players responsible for their decent performance throughout the season is Hakim Ziyech. Staying at Ajax due to complicated circumstances is the most positive turn of events.

An irreplaceable starter for Erik ten Hag’s side, the Moroccan has fit into the manager’s vision and strategy smoothly. It has resulted not only in him contributing greatly to the team’s performance but also in him improving as a player and achieving strong individual numbers.

The 26-year-old has played in 44 games so far this season scoring 20 goals. Not only has his attacking flair been crucial for the team winning games, but his positional sense and slick connection with his teammates have resulted in De Godenzonen playing arguably the most attractive football in Europe this season. Proof of that is his 20 assists in all competitions.

Despite his undeniably strong performance though, a drop in his overall performance has been noticed lately. Is this something normal considering the huge amount of playing time he gets, and has it affected the team’s performance in the Eredivisie title race? This tactical analysis will dive into his performance in detail.

Importance of positional sense

One of Ziyech’s most valuable qualities is his sense of positioning. It’s safe to say that most of his 20 goals thus far have come as a result of his strong off-the-ball movements and positional flair. Although he often switches between the left and the right wing he has been performing equally well on both sides thanks to his perfect timing and vision.

The latest proof of his perfectly measured movement is his goal against Vitesse. He was picked in his most common position lately – as a right winger opposite Dušan Tadić with Kasper Dolberg in the centre. Being positioned on the right flank didn’t stop him from covering greater areas though. This has been key for his impressive performance throughout the season. His opening goal against Vitesse was a showcase of his versatility when it comes to positioning.

In the picture below you can see him centrally in the box, switching positions with Tadić and being perfectly aware of his marker’s positioning.

His dribbling skills and ball control, combined with the distinguished intelligence he shows on the pitch, make him a key figure for Ajax. Take a look at the image below which shows his passes against Willem II.

Despite his position as a right-sided attacking midfielder, his role was a lot more complex. He switched to the left wing and operated centrally too. The team didnt rely only on his crossing abilities but also on his positioning and defensive contribution.

He made