CONTE WANTS MOR
ALVARO MORATA has been told to use tonight’s FA Cup clash with Hull as a warm-up for Barcelona.
The Chelsea striker had been struggling with a back injury but played for half-an-hour as a substitute in Monday’s 3-0 win over West Brom.
Blues boss Antonio Conte said tonight’s fifth-round clash is an important stepping stone ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League visit from Barca.
Conte, who was not happy when a comedian gatecrashed his press conference yesterday, said: “Morata started last week in training with us. Now he is training with regularity.
“This is another good step for him to prepare for the Barcelona game.
“For sure, he is a key part of the plan. In this moment, at this moment, in every moment, it’s important to have your players,
all your players, available.” Morata has made an indifferent start at Chelsea after his £75m summer switch from Real Madrid, with 10 goals in 21 games.
He said: “Chelsea is a big club, a club that has given me the opportunity to play as a starter, to grow even more.
“It’s a team where I’m very happy, where I started well until I had some physical problems. I made a mistake in that respect as I played with pain.
“I went through a poor spell where I missed goals but I wasn’t well physically and mentally.
“Now I have to grit my teeth and do all that I can to return.”
Conte failed to see the funny side yesterday, when an Italian comedian tried to present him with a Manchester United shirt signed by Jose Mourinho.
The comedian – from an Italian satire show – gatecrashed Conte’s press conference.
The Blues boss stopped smiling when he saw the shirt which his bitter rival had signed, unaware it was destined for the Italian.