Chelsea midfielder Hakim Ziyech admits he’s never worked with anyone like manager Thomas Tuchel.
But Ziyech says he enjoys working under the former Paris St Germain coach – and believes he is now ready to show what he is made of.
He said: “I’ve never had a coach who has been like this – the coaches most of the time were more quiet.
“But this is his style of managing – and we have no problems with it. It’s good for the players, it keeps them sharp. That’s the most important thing.
“Most of the time when we are playing he’s also really in it with us. Emotionally-wise, sometimes it’s good – but sometimes you are also like ‘ooh, calm down’ – but it’s good for everybody.
“He has come in with new ideas, new plans. He is always coming over to the group in training, it’s really good. Everybody understands, and everybody knows what his job is, and it works.
“He loves to laugh, but always wants us to work hard. Then we can have fun, but when there has to be work then it has to be serious. Sometimes he likes to joke, but sometimes he’s serious.”
Ziyech added: “It’s been a difficult season for me, with adaption and everything around injuries. When I came, I’d been out for seven months, so adapting to the intensity was difficult. Sometimes you think you have the rhythm, and then you have a setback. So it took some time. I just have to keep working.
“I always believe in myself. I just keep pushing. We have all had our time to settle – for us now it’s time to perform.”