Thomas Tuchel has hit out at claims suggesting that the German manager did not request the signing of Saul Niguez from Atletico Madrid.
Saul joined Chelsea from the Spanish club on a season-long loan deal with an option to sign permanently in the summer.
However, the midfielder has struggled for game time since his arrival, having only played in two of Chelsea’s opening 13 Premier League games.
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According to Spanish outlet Cadena SER, the Blues had not planned on signing Saul, but did so as a favour to his representatives.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Tuchel slammed the reports, before conceding that the club needs to give the 27-year-old more time to adapt to the Premier League.
‘A club signing? No, we don’t do this. Until now we didn’t do club signings and coach’s signings,’ he said ahead of Chelsea’s match against Watford on Wednesday.
‘We do signings because we decide together because we believe it’s a good pick and a good addition to the squad, and this was exactly the case.
‘I think every single player needs his time to adapt and Saul needed his time. He competes with a lot of high quality players in midfield.
‘We need to understand him a bit better, not in terms of language, but in terms what is his real strength, the detail of the player, what can he add to the squad, where is his maybe unique quality and it was not easy.
‘I guess it’s the first time he plays for another club than Atletico, he comes from the academy there, and we have to accept the style of the game is so different from Spain to here.
‘It teaches us a lesson that everybody needs individual time to adapt and since many days he is stronger, I feel him a bit more relaxed and at the same time that gives him a little bit more freedom to impose his quality. He’s very strong in finishing, in arriving in the box.
’In the moment, where we have injured players in the midfield, even Jorginho is doubtful for tomorrow, it’s the moment for him to be ready and I have the feeling since many days that he is ready and can show what he wants to show.’
