NICE ONE, MY SON
Conte hails ‘polite good guy’ Morata but needs him to match departed bad boy Costa’s success on pitch
ANTONIO CONTE has swapped a bad boy striker for one with a halo.
The Chelsea boss even joked how Alvaro Morata was the kind of guy he would be happy with his daughter bringing home when she is old enough for boyfriends.
It seems unlikely Diego Costa would be made as welcome.
Conte is putting his faith in Morata to replace Costa, sold to Atletico Madrid following a bitter fall-out with his manager.
Morata arrived from Real Madrid in July, has scored three times in five league games and is no wind-up merchant on the pitch like Costa.
Conte said: “He’s a really good guy. It means if you have a daughter you would be open to have this type of person with your daughter, to marry your daughter.
“A really good guy, a polite person. But my daughter is young, don’t touch my daughter because I’m jealous!”
Despite the jokes there was a clear message that he was fed-up with Costa and prefers Morata – not just for his style of play.
The departed Spain striker drove Conte to distraction despite being Chelsea’s 20 goal top-scorer in last season’s title success.
But while Morata is also a Spain international and played for Real and Juventus, doubts remain as to whether he can replace the goals and all-round contribution of Costa (below arriving at Madrid’s Adolfo Suarez Airport yesterday).
Conte is convinced Morata can be as influential and become a Blues legend for the next 10 years.
“I like him because he’s a complete player and also has lots of room to improve in the tactical, physical, technical aspect,” said the Italian. He’s very committed, his behaviour is always fantastic. A very polite player, I like this.
“He’s a good finisher and understands well the best position in the box to receive the ball, to understand where the ball is going. He’s a good player, a complete player, technically strong, a good leader.
“Morata is 24 years old which means there is the possibility to work with this player for 10 years. He’s a really good guy, a good person, a good signing for Chelsea.
“For me, the No.9 is very important because it’s a point of reference for our play. But I think last season Costa played well, and this season we changed striker.
“Now we have Alvaro and Michy Batshuayi, but don’t forget I have another option – Eden Hazard. Last season he played No.9 twice, but I ask specific work from my strikers.
“We’re talking two players who are very strong, two really good players.
“I think for Alvaro it’s the right time to be the striker in a great team. Don’t forget his previous experiences with Juventus and Real Madrid. He played but not every game, not regularly, for this reason he is at the right age to have this responsibility.”
Morata lacks Costa’s aggression, but Conte believes he can develop an edge, adding: “When I talk about a lot of room for improvement I also mean this aspect.”