Morata: I am Jose’s text pal

JOSE MOURINHO has been texting Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata as he plots to hit his former club’s fading title hopes at Stamford Bridge tomorrow. Morata was a target for Manchester United this summer, but contact with Mourinho continued after the Spaniard joined Chelsea for £70million. ‘We speak, not only this summer,’ Morata revealed to Sportsmail. ‘I have a good relationship with Jose. Sometimes we send messages, not speaking about football, asking if everything’s OK and sending some jokes. ‘It’s good and I appreciate these things because he was my first coach, but now he’s my rival. We need to win. It’s wonderful playing with Mourinho and winning with Mourinho. Now it’s time to try to win with Antonio (Conte).’ Morata revealed he was not short of options before leaving Real Madrid in July, saying: ‘I had the chance to go to Manchester United and other teams in the Premier League. ‘The important thing is I’m part of Chelsea and I’m very happy with this.’ A lightning start of seven goals in eight games has been followed by hamstring trouble and a six-game drought. But Hublot ambassador Morata says it’s time for that to change. ‘It’s a good moment to demonstrate that we are a good team,’ he said.