Glowing reports from Saul Niguez's first week in training
Plus Marcos Alonso let's us know exactly what Saul will bring
Saul Niguez would have been immediately comforted by the fact that he has two familiar faces in the shape of fellow Spaniard Marcos Alonso and Kepa Arrizabalaga at his first training sessions with Chelsea last week.
Saul knows them both well from the national team, and he also played with Alonso in the Real Madrid academy.
They will both be helping him learn English and settle in to the area in London, but it doesn’t look like Saul needs any help getting excited. He is buzzing to be here, you just need to look at his social media activity to see this, and I genuinely feel that he needs this move as much as Chelsea needed him for extra numbers in the 6 role.
But he isn’t here to just make up the numbers; he is here to play, prove his worth, and be a successful Chelsea team member.
I’ve been told that Thomas Tuchel has already loved what he has seen from Saul in training this week, with the player putting in 100% effort to every session, never pulling out of a tackle, and taking his chance by the reigns determined to be more than just a squad player.
Saul knows it will be tough to break in so I’m told, but he is full of determination and Tuchel already loves his attitude in training and within the group.
Not only will Saul bring immense quality; his influence, fight, and team spirit will be an added asset to this group, and Tuchel has already been very impressed with this side of him as well as what he can do with a football.
There is a lot of settling into a new league and new surroundings that Saul needs to do of course and things will take time, but I’m told he has taken to his new training sessions with his new manager like a duck takes to water.
Alonso has already been speaking about what Saul will bring.
"I know Saul from the national team, and also we shared a manager when we were in the Real Madrid academy,” he told the Chelsea website.
"He's a great player. His conditions are going to be good for the Premier League. He is strong physically, he is very good in the air.
When asked who will be teaching Saul English, Alonso replied, "I will do my best! If he learns from Kepa he is in a bad position!"
Simon Phillips
Perhaps Alonso can also introduce Saul to his hairdresser too. Hope Saul gets a few minutes against Villa to introduce him quickly to the pace of PL. Both Kova and Jorgi probably need a break after the International week. I am assuming Kante is going to rested to recover properly from his injury.