Sarri insists ‘fragile’ striker has what it takes to challenge hot shots
Maurizio Sarri has backed “fragile” Alvaro Morata to keep improving after the striker netted two goals in Chelsea’s win over Crystal Palace.
Morata has now scored five goals in his past six games, but he should have finished the game with the match ball after squandering a late chance for his hat-trick. Chelsea’s £57million record signing has struggled to justify his price tag since joining from Real Madrid last summer and head coach Sarri thinks confidence has been an issue. “He’s a little bit fragile,” said Sarri. “From the mental point of view. But he’s very young. I think he can improve, improve very fast.”
Asked if his goals would improve belief, Sarri said: “I think so. Alvaro improved during the last month. Improved in confidence, improved in personality, improved also from the technical point of view. Now he’s able to play more with the team, I think. But Alvaro has a very great physical and technical potential, so he can improve more.”
Morata trails Tottenham Hotspur
Top tip: Maurizio Sarri says the striker must put teamwork first and the goals will flow striker Harry Kane by a single goal in the Premier League and is level with last season’s top scorer Mohamed Salah.
On the subject of whether the 26-year-old can keep up with the Premier League’s most lethal strikers, Sarri said: “I don’t know. But for Alvaro, the goal has to be a consequence. He has to play for the team, with his mates, without thinking about goals. Goals are usually the consequence of teamwork.
“Alvaro is very fast. Not in the first two or three steps, but if he has to run for 40 metres he’s very fast. He has great potential.”
Palace have not won in six Premier League matches, but manager Roy Hodgson said: “It doesn’t really matter where you are at Christmas. We were rarely outside the relegation zone last season, but ended up 11th. We’ve missed chances, yes, and been a bit unlucky, yes. We don’t have as many points as we should have, yes. But let’s see where we are after 38 games.”