Joe Cole could not understand Hakim Ziyech's non-celebration after scoring the opening goal of Chelsea's 1-1 draw at Brighton.
Ziyech was one of the players most widely criticised following Saturday's defeat at Manchester City and the Moroccan, who was making only his eighth league start of the season, had a point to prove at the Amex Stadium.
He gave the visitors the lead against the run of play with a speculative shot from outside the area but barely reacted after hitting the net despite being mobbed by his team-mates.
Hakim Ziyech (middle) was criticised for not celebrating Chelsea's goal against Brighton
Former Chelsea player Joe Cole said Ziyech's unenthusiastic reaction 'doesn't sit well'
Former Chelsea winger Cole felt Ziyech's reacted as he did in protest of the few opportunities he has been given this season but was disappointed with the player's attitude.
'This is what you play for,' Cole said on BT Sport. He's a fantastic talent, he hasn't hit the ground running in the Premier League as it's very different to the Dutch league. But the not celebrating.. It doesn't sit well for him as a lad.'
Cole said every player is not happy when playing regularly but celebrating goals was an important part of being a footballer and feeling part of a team.
'If he was in my team I'd be saying come on. You know when lads are not happy and they're not playing. But if I come off the bench and score a goal, it's a release of energy.'
Former Brighton striker Glenn Murray was a fellow guest on BT's coverage and he also questioned Ziyech's reaction.
Murray even felt his lack of enthusiasm may have led to other players in the Chelsea team dropping their energy levels in the game, emphasising that properly celebrating a goal can have a galvanising effect on a team.
'I was disappointed with the reaction to the goal, I think if you celebrate that with the fans it gives you a buoyancy for the next 10 minutes to go and take the game and put it to bed. That's what Chelsea needed to do,' he said.
'With all due respect they've dropped four points against a Brighton team who they need to be taking four or six points from easily if they want to be challenging for the title. And against the run of play they got a goal. That was a leg up, you go take the game, you put it to bed. Even with the celebration it's a flat celebration and it just passes on to teammates doesn't it.'
The strike from outside the area was only Ziyech's second Premier League goal of the season
