Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel says Saul Niguez has knuckled down and is training with ‘intensity’ after his poor debut against Aston Villa.
The 26-year-old made the move from Atletico Madrid to Chelsea on a season-long loan with an option to sign permanently, but endured a difficult time on his first start for the Blues.
Saul was susbstituted at the break for Jorginho as Chelsea went on to beat Villa 3-0, with Tuchel saying after the game the player made some ‘big mistakes’ during his 45-minute cameo.
- Ed Woodward rates Man Utd’s title chances after Ronaldo, Varane & Sancho signings
- Petr Cech fires Champions League warning to Chelsea & Tuchel
- Jorginho reveals what Italy teammates said about Lukaku before Chelsea return
He was left on the bench for Chelsea’s Champions League win over Zenit St Petersburg, but speaking to reporters on Friday, Tuchel said the player has responded in the right way in training.
‘We have guys who experienced the same difficult start as him,’ the German coach said ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Tottenham on Sunday.
‘This team is a very supportive team so everybody shared their experiences also from their first matches in the Premier League.
‘When I was on the sideline for my first match, it was at another level.
‘We don’t doubt his quality and his ability to adapt. It takes maybe a bit of time to get it off his shoulders but he is at an age where he does not worry too much. He’s self-confident.
‘Everybody in the dressing room, everybody in the club knows him very well because we played against him many times.
‘The best way to react is what he did, he trains good and he trains with intensity and this will prepare him for the next time he is on the pitch for us.’
