CHARGING MORELOS CAN’T BE STOPPED
MOST people wondered what was going through Scott Fox’s head after the Ross County keeper’s moment of madness gifted Rangers a goal on Sunday.
But as HJK Helsinki boss Mika Lehkosuo watched match highlights on YouTube he preferred to focus on the quick thinking and instant reaction of Alfredo Morelos.
Lehkosuo was quietly satisfied as he sat at home in Finland and saw Morelos pounce to capitalise on
Fox’s gaffe and net his second in the 3-1 victory in Dingwall.
The former Finnish international had worked tirelessly every day to get the Colombian frontman to pursue the second ball and feed off scraps.
Lehkosuo admitted the South American striker would often lie in a heap on the turf after a missed opportunity.
That’s why the 47-year-old was delighted to see him spring to his feet after losing out to Fox with his sliding challenge so he was in a position to rob the County keeper of possession.
Morelos then rolled the ball into the net for his fifth goal in five starts as he quickly repays the £1million Pedro Caixinha spent on him in the summer.
Lehkosuo helped polish the rough edges when Morelos – nicknamed the Buffalo – first arrived from Independiente Medellin and watched him develop into a prolific scorer.
The former Perugia midfielder told Record Sport: “One of the criticisms of him was he stopped playing when he didn’t get the ball.
“That is what made it so interesting – and pleasing – watching his second goal for Rangers on Sunday.
“His first was a fantastic header and he scored similar goals in Finland.
“He can head the ball and use his body in those situations but the second was the one that I was delighted with most. “It was great for me to see that because we worked so hard on that side of his game.
“Alfredo wouldn’t continue to press and be alive for the second ball.
“But when the goalkeeper made the mistake on Sunday the Buffalo jumped up after sliding down and got the ball.
“It was a weakness in the early part of his career. At HJK we have tried to work on an aggressive style after we lose possession and tried to improve on that area.
“That is why we spoke to Alfredo about it and also mentally. I told him when scouts of clubs followed him they said he would play the first situation but then stop.
“That was the message to him how important it is because it could deny him a move to a bigger league.
“It was daily work with him to get the message over. We had to make sure training drills didn’t end when MIKA LEHKOSUO he scored and we would get another ball in play to get him to react.
“That was the emphasis to all players, not just Alfredo. We gave him feedback and I’m delighted to see it paying off.
“It was such a positive to see him jump up after losing the challenge to the goalkeeper. “When he first came from Colombia two years ago he would have stayed on the ground. “We told him, ‘Continue, continue, continue’ and it looks like that advice has paid off although there was already evidence of that.
“Just prior to leaving he was really dynamic and played one of his best games in Finland a couple of weeks before he left HJK .
“He was a really mature footballer, nothing like the player who arrived.
“I had a couple of years working with Alfredo at HJK and he’s a really interesting striker, always looking for the ball.
“He’s really talented. There’s always a little doubt when players make a step up to a better league where the tempo is higher.
“The player has to adjust his game and that is the only question mark. But Alfredo is a striker who has a nose for goal and great technical ability and pace.
“A couple of different agents offered Alfredo to us and I watched videos and we gave him a trial.
“My first impression is he was strong and technically okay and really looking for the ball and can shoot with both feet.
“We made a decision in the club to bring him to Finland for three months and he was good enough to continue.
“It’s hard to say what level Alfredo can reach. He’s talented. But I just hope he can continue playing well and scoring goals for Rangers.
“I don’t want him to think too much about the future and concentrate on the next game and the next training session because when he does that the rest will follow.
“I have a bit of a language barrier because I don’t speak Spanish and he doesn’t speak English but my assistant is from Spain and he was the one who communicated with him.
“I wasn’t disappointed to see him leave for Scotland. Our role is to develop players and help them achieve their goals and I’m happy he has joined a much bigger club and a bigger stage.”
While Morelos is the sharp shooter Rangers hoped they had signed, Portuguese defender Fabio Cardoso reckons he’s learning the art of defending from veteran compatriot Bruno Alves.
The 23-year-old told the Rangers website: “Bruno’s very good. He’s a very good player – one of the best centre-backs from my country.
“I am learning a lot and I know I will learn and grow as a player the more I play beside Bruno.
“He’s very good with the ball and without it. He’s very good with the physical side and the tactical parts. For me it is incredible to play alongside Bruno.”