The signing of Saul Niguez on an initial season long loan from Atletico Madrid was met with excitement from the majority of Chelsea fans in the summer.
Saul had been a key member of Diego Simeone’s side for seven years but opted to try his luck in the Premier League after falling down the pecking order in the Spanish capital.
However, his luck has not exactly turned in England. After a dismal debut against Aston Villa, during which he was brought off at half-time, the 26-year-old has appeared just once more in the league, coming on for a late cameo against Newcastle.
Three more appearances have come his way in the Carabao Cup and Champions League but, according to a report by the Sun, Saul is not happy and ‘surprised’ by the lack of minutes Thomas Tuchel has given him in the top flight.
The midfielder is reportedly happy with life in London, and while he is apparently not angry at his lack of game time so far, the move is not exactly what the Spanish star was expecting.
The 26-year-old did not expect to be starting every game, but apparently wants to show he can add value to the Chelsea midfield with his experience from Atletico and wants to be given more chances.
As a result of his lack of game time, Saul has not been called up to the Spanish national side by Luis Enrique and the midfielder is now looking to use the extra training time to impress Tuchel and earn a place in the starting XI.
It is a move similar to that of Callum Hudson-Odoi.
While Hudson-Odoi instead rejected the chance to meet up with the England Under-21’s again this month, he too has done so with the hopes of cementing his spot in the Chelsea team by impressing his manager over the coming two weeks.
The tactic has slowly started to pay-off with the 21-year-old starting four of the Blues’ last five Premier League matches. It is a trick that Saul will be eager to repeat himself.