Antonio Conte sends ‘important’ message to Chelsea fans about Alvaro Morata
The Chelsea boss talks up Alvaro Morata's calibre in the Champions League ahead of their trip to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night
Antonio Conte believes Alvaro Morata is equipped to thrive in the Champions League ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.
The Spain international moved to the Premier League champions in a £58m deal from La Liga giants Real Madrid in the summer transfer window.
Morata scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 win against Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday afternoon to take his tally to seven goals in six Premier League games.
The 24-year-old centre-forward scored five goals in 12 appearances in the Champions League before the Serie A giants lost 3-1 to Barcelona in the 2015 final.
Morata won the competition as a squad player with Real Madrid in 2014 before he returned to the Spanish capital last summer and netted three times to help los Blancos win the European crown.
Chelsea boss Conte was keen to stress Morata’s proven experience in the Champions League ahead of their trip to La Liga giants Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.
“Don’t forget his previous experience – he didn’t play a lot with Juventus and Real Madrid but now he has a great chance to show that he is a really good striker, a fantastic striker,” Conte told his post-match news conference at Stoke on Saturday.
“He’s very young, only 24 years, and I think this is important for Chelsea. I think now he’s involved totally in our style of football, in our idea.
“He’s very strong and he showed he’s a really good, complete player. The Premier League is not easy for the striker.
“During the game there is a lot of physical contact and you must be prepared for this type of game because also the referee doesn’t whistle a lot.
“I think that’s good for the game. He adapted very well to this league but now he has to continue to work and improve because he’s only starting.”
Morata has netted against Burnley, Everton, Leicester City and Stoke City in the Premier League in the 2017-18 season so far.
The Spanish striker has already won two Serie A titles, two Coppa Italias, La Liga, the Copa del Rey twice and the Champions League in his career so far.
