If Saul Niguez's Chelsea future appeared unsure earlier than taking to the pitch at Vicarage Street on Wednesday evening, Thomas Tuchel quickly cleared issues up.
After one other dismal first-half exhibiting, the Atletico Madrid loanee was uncerimoniously hooked on the break by the German head coach, the second time in as many Premier League begins.
It was imagined to be his renaissance, a possibility to grab with Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante each dominated out with damage. As an alternative he delivered one other alarmingly inept show.
Changing him with Thiago Silva, Tuchel was requested concerning the central midfielder after the slender 2-1 win in opposition to Watford.
'I do not know the place he goes from this efficiency,' was the boss's frank response.
'He was on a yellow card so we had two choices - take Marcos [Alonso] off, who additionally had a yellow card, and take a look at Saul as a wing-back.
'I had this in my thoughts earlier than the sport, if one thing occurred to Marcos. I believed possibly it was not the precise match to attempt issues with new positions so it was him to alter the form somewhat bit and have Thiago [Silva] on the pitch along with his organising.'
It's the newest setback in what has been a sorry spell in west London for the Spain worldwide, who has made simply seven appearances all season regardless of being match and obtainable since his transfer from LaLiga.
For all the joy surrounding his last-minute deadline-day transfer, the temper round his Stamford Bridge hopes has fallen severely flat.
His show on Wednesday was worryingly poor, his output likened to that of earlier midfield flops for the Blues akin to Tiemoue Bakayoko.
Heading again into the altering rooms, Saul had accomplished simply eight passes. Alongside along with his yellow card, he had simply 19 touches to indicate for his 45 minutes of effort - fewer than each different Chelsea participant apart from the extra attacking duo of Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic. Definitely not the numbers required of a midfielder seeking to dictate play.
It was no enchancment on his first begin within the high flight, a extremely forgettable 45 minutes in opposition to Aston Villa wherein he surrendered possession on no fewer than 10 events whereas additionally successful simply one among his 9 duels with Villa gamers.
He has been given probabilities elsewhere on the Chelsea fixture listing, however in fact the Spain worldwide has failed to say himself.
Saul began each of Chelsea's Carabao Cup clashes at Stamford Bridge this time period, however was subbed earlier than additional time in each. There have been brief cameos within the residence Champions League clashes in opposition to Malmo and Juventus - video games wherein the hosts have been already residence and dry by the point he was launched.
The identical may be mentioned of his solely different Premier League look, a pointless two-minute spell at St James' Park the place he got here on within the 88th minute, Chelsea already 3-0 up.
Actually, regardless of his transfer firstly of September, Saul has nonetheless performed extra minutes of LaLiga soccer this season (200) than he has within the Premier League (92), having began every of Atleti's opening three matches of the season earlier than shifting to England.
His lack of enjoying time has led to some uncomfortable questions for Tuchel, who has needed to fend off recommendations that the participant was pressured upon him by the Chelsea hierarchy.
Requested about his personal involvement within the transfer, the 48-year-old was adamant. 'A club signing? No, we don't do that,' he mentioned on the eve of the Watford conflict.
'Till now we didn't do membership signings and coach's signings. We do signings as a result of we resolve collectively as a result of we imagine it's choose and addition to the squad, and this was precisely the case.'
Earlier than Wednesday, the German had all the time sought to defend Saul and his lack of impression on the pitch - 'each single participant wants his time to adapt' was the mantra beforehand relayed to the press.
However Saul has been given his time, and nonetheless there isn't any progress in sight. It's clearly a supply of frustration for Tuchel.
With a season-long mortgage, time remains to be on the Spaniard's aspect. Different alternatives are inevitable. At this price, nevertheless, so too is a swift return to the Spanish capital subsequent summer season.
Forward of the derby journey to West Ham on Saturday lunchtime there actually is just one conclusion Tuchel could make: higher drop Saul.
