“I am very happy with his performance”- Thomas Tuchel hails the performance of Saul Niguez against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup semi final

Chelsea were 2-0 winners against Antonio Conte’s Spurs in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi final at Stamford Bridge. The scoreline tells a rather different story as the blues missed some great chances to score a few more and put the game to bed before the second leg next week. However Spurs are still very much in it.

Kai Havertz gave Chelsea the lead in the fifth minute when Marcos Alonso played him through on goal and it was all one way traffic as Chelsea piled up the chances. Japhet Tanganga headed clearance bounced off Ben Davies before going into his own net saw Chelsea double their advantage going into halftime.

Saul Niguez against Spurs in the Carabao Cup semi final

Thiago Silva and N’Golo Kante returned a positive COVID-19 test before the game and Thomas Tuchel was forced into a change in the system and personnel. Saul Niguez who has had a tough time at Chelsea since his loan move from Atletico Madrid in the summer finally found some form as he bossed the midfield against Spurs and Tuchel had nothing but heap of praise for the Spaniard after the game.

FS Video

Saul Niguez's game by numbers vs. Tottenham:

100% long ball accuracy
89% pass accuracy
69 touches
55 passes
6 tackles (most)
3 interceptions (=most)
2 shots
2 chances created

Dominating in the midfield. ? pic.twitter.com/vuRZD84z38
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 5, 2022

“He has digested his experiences here in the beginning, when he maybe did not expect it to be like this,Now he would certainly not be the first player to struggle with the switch to England.” Tuchel said.

Thomas Tuchel on Saul Niguez performance last night. pic.twitter.com/wCci2FXsg0
— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK) January 6, 2022

He further added “But he’s open, fully focused and totally committed to the team. I’m very happy he had a performance like that, which was a huge step forward. He played better when he came on against Wolverhampton. He’s stepping up and stepping up.”

“It is not decided yet”- Thomas Tuchel warns his Chelsea side that road to Wembley is not yet safe

Chelsea players celebrating agiainst Spurs

Thomas Tuchel says there is still a lot to do on the second leg against Tottenham next week and that his team cannot sit with a 2-0 lead. Chelsea will have a upper hand in the next game however Spurs have put in some great performances under Conte since his arrival.

“We did create a lot, some huge chances, it could have been possible to score more, the up side is everybody knows it is going to be a tough match, it is not decided yet.”

Will Chelsea be able to hold off Spurs and make it to the Carabao Cup final ?

Also read: “There is a lot of work to do”- Antonio Conte gives a brutal assessment of his Spurs side after disappointing performance against Chelsea