Antonio Conte told Chelsea signing isn’t as good as Diego Costa
Mark Lawrenson believes Chelsea signing Alvaro Morata isn't as good as Diego Costa in tight games
Alvaro Morata can’t match Diego Costa’s impact during tight moments in Chelsea’s games, Mark Lawrenson has claimed.
The Spain international scored 20 times in Chelsea’s title success in the 2016-17 season to help Antonio Conte to win the Premier League last term.
Costa was also part of Jose Mourinho’s team that lifted the Premier League crown in 2015 thanks to a return of 20 goals in 35 games in his first season in England.
Costa, though, returned to La Liga giants Atletico Madrid in September to leave Morata with an unenviable void to fill in the Chelsea team.
The Spanish forward has scored eight goals in 11 games in the Premier League this term, including a winner in a 1-0 victory over Manchester United.
Morata netted the equaliser in a 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League back in September to show his big-game mentality.
However, former Liverpool defender Lawrenson believes Costa still had an edge on Morata in high-pressure moments despite the summer signing’s impressive start of the season.
“He’s a really good finisher but he’s just not Costa,” Lawrenson told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“When the game is really tight and things aren’t going for you.
“Costa is completely different.”
Morata moved to defending Premier League champions Chelsea from Real Madrid in a £58m deal in the summer transfer window.
