Football London
Saul Niguez’s motivation for leaving Atletico Madrid in the summer to join Chelsea on loan was simple: he wanted to play in his preferred central midfield role, something that had become increasingly infrequent under Diego Simeone at the Wanda Metropolitano.
“I felt stuck not playing in my position,” Saul explained on Ibai Llanos’ Twitch stream. “My head didn’t accept my new role of playing in a new position [left wing-back]. I had several conversations with Simeone about my positions because it’s not new, I have been like this for three years.
“I owe him everything, I have a great relationship with him but he has to be selfish and think about the group. If he thinks that the group performs better with me on the wing, he has to do it.
“Chelsea have promised to train me in my position. To resume certain customs that I do not perform now, that is the most important reason for my decision.”
Saul was thrown immediately into the Chelsea side after joining on a season-long loan, but he was withdrawn just 45 minutes into his debut. The pace of the Premier League flustered the 27-year-old and it was clear a period of adaptation was needed.
The midfielder was given that at Stamford Bridge. His second Premier League start only came in midweek against Watford. Again, he didn’t make it out for the second half.
Saul had no impact on the game. He completed just 13 passes and looked completely lost on the Vicarage Road pitch. It was difficult to watch.
The Spain international’s loan at Chelsea runs until next summer. The harsh reality is there is very little chance of him starting regularly for the Blues between now and then.
Could he return to Atletico in January? It’s unlikely. The La Liga giants had to move Saul off their books in order to accommodate the loan signing of Antonio Griezmann under La Liga’s salary cap. So unless a big earner departs the Wanda Metropolitano in the winter window, Los Rojiblancos can’t reincorporate their academy graduate.
It’s almost certainly hard for Saul to accept the position he finds himself in. He is a midfielder that has won 19 caps for Spain, has started in a Champions League final against Real Madrid, has…
