You could tell that things were getting really desperate against Everton last night because Thomas Tuchel turned to Saul and Ross Barkley off the bench.
Given the slew of absences to injuries and positive Covid tests, it was about all he could do.
He will face similar dilemmas when we take on Wolves on Sunday, although given what the Chelsea boss has just said in his press conference, it seems that pair have done little to help their cause in their recent cameos.
Tuchel says Mateo Kovacic returned to training today, Jorginho and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are doubts because they are "in pain." Says it is possible N'Golo Kante could start.
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) December 17, 2021
It's not a glowing endorsement of Saul that Tuchel would seemingly rather play unfit Kante or Kovacic than him vs Wolves. The loan has been a bit of a disaster from both the club and player so far. I do feel sorry for Saul because maybe Chelsea hasn't been the right fit. #CFC
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) December 17, 2021
Tuchel admitted that Jorginho and Ruben Loftus-Cheek had suffered injuries, but he seemed to imply that he would use the returning N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic, neither of whom have played in weeks (or months in Kovacic’s case), instead of relying on the relatively fresh Saul and Barkley.
If they can’t get into Tuchel’s plans here, with not alternative single central midfielder in the right condition to start, then things are truly hopeless for them.
