The progress of Saul Niguez and a bright debut by Lewis Hall supplied Thomas Tuchel with the warm glow of value to accompany Chelsea’s five goals against Chesterfield.
Saul, after a torrid start to his season on loan from Atletico Madrid, featured for the seventh time in a dozen games since the start of December and showed he is finally close to the rhythm of English football.
‘I think so and I hope so,’ said Tuchel. ‘He (Saul) is more confident and in better shape. A huge step forward was the performance against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.