CHELSEA boss Thomas Tuchel admitted new signing Saul Niguez ‘struggled’ in his Premier League debut against Aston Villa.
The Chelsea manager even claimed the new boy ‘created some half-chances for Aston Villa’ before he was subbed at half-time.
The 26-year-old midfielder, who secured a loan move to Stamford Bridge from Atletico Madrid on deadline day, looked off the pace during the Blues’ 3-0 win on Saturday evening.
He was eventually hooked at half-time in what became a nightmare start for the Spaniard.
And Chelsea manager Tuchel was honest in his assessment of the Saul’s first game at the club.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “I had the feeling that he struggled.
“There were some big mistakes, passing mistakes, and he struggled with the intensity. You could see he isn’t fully adapted.
“It’s completely my responsibility. I had the feeling he could jump in for us and play at that level.
“I [then] thought it was maybe better to change him, but it doesn’t change anything [about how I see him].”
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He then went on to add: “It’s very hard. You can either do it or not do it. I told him before it was my responsibility if it does not work out for the matter of your life.
“He struggled a bit, created some half-chances for Aston Villa.”
Saul is on a season-long loan with Chelsea but the Premier League side do have the option to buy him at the end of the campaign.
The Blues have made a superb start to the season with three wins and one draw from their opening four league games.
They currently sit second in the table behind Manchester United and are yet to concede a goal.
Tuchel’s side now turn their attention to the Champions League as they host Zenit St Petersburg.
They then return to Premier League action on Sunday when they take on Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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