Spanish attacker, Alvaro Morata was brought in to replace his Compatriot, Diego Costa who had fallen out with Manager Antonio Conte at the Stamford Bridge at the beginning of the current campaign.
One major issue is that the sleek-playing Morata has come in to replace a striker from whom he could hardly be more different.
Brazillian born Diego Costa was about abrasion and rough edges, while Morata is all finesse and sleek lines.
When things are going Morata’s way, he looks like some amazing luxury product. But when they are not, like against Arsenal all season till last night, he looks too honed and truly ineffective.
Morata’s fast start, bagging seven goals in his first eight games for Chelsea since joining from Real Madrid made fans and pundits feel he will be replacing the aggressive Diego Costa in a more calm pattern.
But since then, Morata has been drifting away from his best form and finds himself now heading into the serious end of the season bereft of form and confidence.
Morata managed just three goals from seven appearances in December, but last night’s Carabao Cup Semi was his third game without a goal in January, and he looked far away than ever from the player we saw earlier in the season.
When these two teams met at the Emirates last Wednesday, Morata struggled badly, missing three good chances when straight through on goal, showing none of the easy confidence from the opening months of the campaign.
He skewed the first one well wide and never truly recovered, and in the final minutes, he thumped one straight at Petr Cech.
Manager Antonio Conte supported his striker afterward that for Morata, the goals were coming, but last night, against the same opponent, back at Stamford Bridge, was no improvement.
So, do you think you know why Morata is not finding it easy at replacing Costa?
COMMENTS