Morata: "I was happy in Madrid, but couldn't stay as substitute"
Chelsea's new Spanish striker opened up about his departure from Madrid, his previous managers, making the World Cup and his goalscoring intentions.
Álvaro Morata has been speaking openly about his departure from Real Madrid and arrival at Chelsea over the summer, which comes as a timely reminder to the Spanish and European champions with questions being asked about their striking options. In an extensive interview with the Daily Mail, the Spanish international also talked about his managers, the pressure on him and his approach to goalscoring while in London.
Morata on... managers he's worked with:
"Last week I saw a photograph from the FIFA coaches’ conference and as I scanned across, I’m thinking, 'I’ve played under Zinedine Zidane, Carlo Ancelotti, and Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid.' Then there was Max Allegri at Juventus.
"Now I am with Antonio Conte, who originally signed me for Juve. I am only missing a Guardiola or a Klopp!"
Morata on... the anti-semetic chant from Cheslea fans last week
"It’s clearly a sensitive issue. There are many ways to enjoy yourself at a game and to cheer on your team or your favourite players. But I am clear. I am against any songs that will offend people on the basis of religion or race. We need to cut it out.
"Football is only a sport, let’s use it as a positive vehicle. It’s not just that but kids who follow us and who want to be like us one day and we need to set the best example to them in the stands. By all means, cheer me on, sing my name, sing songs about Chelsea but let’s avoid this chant. The fans have been extremely welcoming to me and hopefully we can move forwards together now.’
Morata on... the transfer fee and pressure to succeed
"When I first came, I felt a lot of pressure. The price tag is a big deal. I missed an important penalty in the Community Shield. I knew straight away I would need to grit my teeth and that there would be a load of criticism. It only made me more determined to prove any critics wrong and work harder than ever before."
Morata on... scoring goals, recently only with the head
"If I score every game with my head, no problem. I don’t care if it’s a bobble off my knee or it goes in off my arse, a goal is a goal! At Real Madrid, I did heading drills with Cristiano Ronaldo. You see him go up for headers, that spring and power, he is a real beast.
"At Juventus, I saw Fernando Llorente, how he finds space and directs his headers. I like the physical challenge. Last week, I played against Wes Morgan and Harry Maguire... big guys. Cesc Fabregas was putting in good corners that I thought I could get to and bury but there were some coming in and I couldn’t even get a jump up against those guys.
"But then I got between them to score. You have to be clever. I’m not worried - at Juve I trained against Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci every day."
Morata on... leaving Real Madrid
"Zidane wanted me to stay and I was happy in Madrid. But I couldn’t stay to be a substitute. You reach a point that you need to play, to grow up, to escape a comfort zone. It’s about being comfortable. I don’t want that. I am ambitious and hungry to succeed.
"For Spain, the more I play, the more goals I score, the more chance I have of making the World Cup and starting games."
Read the full interview here.
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