Morata is mentally fragile like Saponara, says Sarri
Álvaro Morata has struggled at Chelsea since the start of 2018, and Maurizio Sarri puts that down to him having a fragile mentality, similar to Riccardo Saponara.
![Morata is mentally fragile like Saponara, says Sarri](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/75FT5FI2UFJCZK737R6NNY7XLE.jpg?auth=bef3fb80d1b51420428fbfa942236ed37ea334d0b979fccaac762cc6458eb78b&width=360&height=203&smart=true)
Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri compared under-fire forward Álvaro Morata to his former Empoli midfielder Riccardo Saponara because his mental fragility impacts on his natural ability. After a bright start to life at Chelsea, Morata has had a difficult time in 2018, scoring just six times in the Premier League since the turn of the year. Five of those have come this season, but his performances have left a lot to be desired, often appearing uneasy in front of goal and lacking in confidence.
![Chelsea's Álvaro Morata celebrates with Ross Barkley after scoring their fourth goal against PAOK.](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/THV5B67OIFMTBEHRC36GHZBKEI.jpg?auth=661395c23d8106e8e3f1bf49ffc01f3f78b17e60aceb3d7a7cccc755d3b4bd80&width=360)
Morata not lacking ability
Sarri believes the Spain international is comparable to Saponara, who he coached at Empoli earlier in his career. The former Italy Under-21 international showed enough potential to secure a move to AC Milan, but the 26-year-old's career is yet to hit the heights many expected, and Sarri feels Morata has a similar type of mental fragility.
"It's difficult," the coach told reporters. "At Empoli I had a wonderful player, Riccardo Saponara, who we sold to AC Milan. Saponara was one of the best players I have ever seen, but a little bit mentally fragile. Álvaro has scored four or five goals in his last six matches, so I cannot see a big problem. I hope that there will be more this season. Every season he scores 15 or 16 goals, so he's around his average [goal return]. I speak with him every week, but on the pitch he is alone. I think that at the moment he's not playing to his full potential. It's difficult."