‘I don’t know where he goes from this’ – Chelsea ace Saul Niguez’s performance questioned by Tuchel after Watford flop
THOMAS TUCHEL has admitted he ‘doesn’t know’ what’s next for Saul Niguez after another shocking Chelsea showing.
The deadline day loan signing was gifted a rare appearance against Watford with Jorginho out injured, but was hooked at half time by Tuchel.
It was just his second Premier League start for the Blues, and the second time he has been subbed off at half time.
And speaking after the 2-1 victory over the Hornets, Tuchel delivered a damning verdict on his midfielder.
He said: “I don’t know where he goes from this performance but he was on a yellow card so we had two options.
“We could have taken Marcos [Alonso] off who also had a yellow card and try Saul as a wing-back.
“I had this in my mind before the game, if something happened to Marcos.
“But I thought maybe it was not the right match to try things with new positions so it was [subbing] him to change the shape a little bit and have Thiago on the pitch with his organising.
“Having Trevoh [Chalobah] on the number six who is more physical – unfortunately Trevoh injured himself and we ended up with Ruben on the single six. But it was a tactical decision.”
Tuchel insisted it was a tactical decision, although the Spaniard’s stat line this season catches the eye for all the wrong reasons.
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In just over 90 minutes of league action he’s made one tackle, and failed to even contribute a key pass, let alone score a goal or provide an assist.
Ben Chilwell’s injury has Tuchel pondering whether to play Saul at wing-back, with Marcos Alonso his only current option in the position.
Although despite limited playing time, Chelsea fans are already tired of Saul.
One grumbled: “Send Saul back to Spain we’ve been scammed.”
Meanwhile another raged: “Saul don’t deserve to be a Chelsea player.”
The Blues do have the option to make Saul’s loan deal permanent at the end of the season for £40million.
But with even Tuchel admitting he isn’t sure what’s next for the midfielder, it’s hard to see that option being taken up.
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