Conte bemoans loss of Morata ahead of Everton trip
permanent next summer for a fee of around £166 million.
United, who trail City by 11 points in the Premier League, have spent hundreds of millions of pounds in the transfer market since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 but Giggs believes they do not have enough high-class players to compete with their neighbours.
And the most decorated player in United’s history also thinks some of the players they let go should never have been allowed to leave the club.
“I know what a Manchester United player looks like,” he said.
“There have been a lot who have come through that haven’t been United players and also players LIVERPOOL: Antonio Conte says the who were United and shouldn’t loss of Alvaro Morata for Chelsea’s trip have left. to Everton is a blow to his side’s hopes
“I’m talking about Rafael (Da of maintaining their distant pursuit of Silva), (Danny) Welbeck, Jonny Premier League leaders Manchester City.Evans—playerswhoareUnited through and through. Morata was booked after scoring
“It was hard because Louis the added-time winning goal in the had his own ideas and you had midweek League Cup quarterfinal to respect that but, yes, we had a victory over Bournemouth that set up few arguments about a couple of a semifinal meeting with Arsenal. them.” The Spain striker, who had come off
Giggs told the Times he felt he the bench, initially stuck the ball under was in with a chance of succeeding his shirt in a gesture to his pregnant Van Gaal as United’s manager but wife but he earned the caution for understood the decision to go for kicking the ball away as Bournemouth Jose Mourinho even though he attempted to restart the game quickly. feels he could have given the club It was Morata’s fifth booking of the continuity. season, earning the forward a one
game ban and leaving Conte with a decision to make about how best to replace his side’s leading scorer.
Michy Batshuayi is the squad’s only other recognised central striker but the Belgian failed to impress after being handed a rare start this week. Previously, Conte has preferred to fill the gap by employing Eden Hazard as a false nine and he is expected to do that once again.
“For sure, Morata should have played against Everton,” said the Chelsea boss. “He would have started the game, for sure. But now I have to prepare a different plan.
“I have different options. I have a day to make the best decision ahead of the Everton game. At training everyone was in good form, and I have time to make a decision.”
Chelsea remain 14 points adrift of City in third place and the current priority is to maintain the four-point gap to fourth place.
“This match is very important for us, the last game before Christmas,” said Conte. “I’d like to spend a good Christmas with a good game, a good win. “It would be very important to get three points, but we know very well that, in the last five games, Everton won four games.
“They are in a good moment of form. They changed the coach and are having good results. For this reason, we must pay great attention on Saturday.”
Everton have picked up 13 points from 15 available since Sam Allardyce agreed to become their manager last month.