Better drop Saul: Why there looks to be no future for Atletico Madrid loanee at Chelsea
If Saul Niguez’s Chelsea long term appeared uncertain before getting to the pitch at Vicarage Road on Wednesday night, Thomas Tuchel shortly cleared things up.
After a further dismal to start with-half exhibiting, the Atletico Madrid loanee was uncerimoniously hooked at the split by the German head mentor, the next time in as lots of Leading League starts.
It was intended to be his renaissance, an opportunity to seize with Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante both dominated out with harm. As a substitute he sent a further alarmingly inept display screen.
For the next time this year, Saul Niguez (next left) was substituted at half-time
Staying hooked by boss Thomas Tuchel is starting to be an alarmingly common experience for bank loan signing Saul
Changing him with Thiago Silva, Tuchel was asked about the central midfielder immediately after the slim 2-one gain against Watford.
‘I don’t know where he goes from this effectiveness,’ was the boss’s frank reaction.
‘He was on a yellow card so we experienced two selections – get Marcos [Alonso] off, who also experienced a yellow card, and consider Saul as a wing-back.
‘I experienced this in my mind before the activity, if one thing occurred to Marcos. I imagined probably it was not the ideal match to consider things with new positions so it was him to improve the condition a minor little bit and have Thiago [Silva] on the pitch with his organising.’
It is the latest setback in what has been a sorry spell in west London for the Spain global, who has made just seven appearances all year irrespective of becoming healthy and readily available given that his transfer from LaLiga.
For all the excitement surrounding his previous-moment deadline-working day transfer, the mood all over his Stamford Bridge hopes has fallen severely flat.
His display screen on Wednesday was worryingly bad, his output likened to that of former midfield flops for the Blues these kinds of as Tiemoue Bakayoko.
Heading back into the altering rooms, Saul experienced completed just 8 passes. Together with his yellow card, he experienced just 19 touches to exhibit for his forty five minutes of effort – much less than each and every other Chelsea player other than the extra attacking duo of Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic. Certainly not the quantities demanded of a midfielder searching to dictate engage in.
It was no improvement on his to start with start out in the best flight, a really forgettable forty five minutes against Aston Villa in which he surrendered possession on no much less than ten situations though also winning just just one of his 9 duels with Villa players.
He has been given odds elsewhere on the Chelsea fixture checklist, but in truth of the matter the Spain global has unsuccessful to assert himself.
The Atletico Madrid loanee was taken off at the split, with Thiago Silva replacing him
Chelsea boss Tuchel explained at whole time he ‘doesn’t know’ where Saul goes from below
Saul began both of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup clashes at Stamford Bridge this phrase, but was subbed before further time in both. There have been short cameos in the dwelling Champions League clashes against Malmo and Juventus – video games in which the hosts have been previously dwelling and dry by the time he was launched.
The similar can be explained of his only other Leading League visual appearance, a unnecessary two-moment spell at St James’ Park where he arrived on in the 88th moment, Ch
elsea previously 3- up.
In point, irrespective of his transfer at the beginning of September, Saul has continue to played extra minutes of LaLiga soccer this year (two hundred) than he has in the Leading League (92), having began each and every of Atleti’s opening 3 matches of the year before shifting to England.
His absence of enjoying time has led to some uncomfortable questions for Tuchel, who has experienced to fend off ideas that the player was forced on him by the Chelsea hierarchy.
Questioned about his own involvement in the transfer, the 48-yr-aged was adamant. ‘A club signing? No, we really do not do this,’ he explained on the eve of the Watford clash.
‘Until now we did not do club signings and coach’s signings. We do signings because we determine together because we believe it is a excellent choose and a excellent addition to the squad, and this was particularly the case.’
The Spain international’s to start with league start out for Chelsea finished in equivalent style against Villa
That was a major disappointment immediately after his eye-catching summer months bank loan signing from Atletico
Ahead of Wednesday, the German experienced always sought to defend Saul and his absence of impact on the pitch – ‘every one player wants his time to adapt’ was the mantra formerly relayed to the press.
But Saul has been given his time, and continue to there is no development in sight. It is evidently a source of disappointment for Tuchel.
With a year-lengthy bank loan, time is continue to on the Spaniard’s aspect. Other chances are inevitable. At this fee, nevertheless, so much too is a swift return to the Spanish cash up coming summer months.
Forward of the derby excursion to West Ham on Saturday lunchtime there genuinely is only just one conclusion Tuchel can make: much better fall Saul.
Saul has struggled for minutes this year, largely restricted to cup appearances for the Blues
