Morata confident of coping with pressure from fans, coaches, and Chelsea record transfer fee

 

 

A little over 24 hours before his first ever Premier League match — one he’s not actually guaranteed to start — Chelsea record signing Álvaro Morata sat down for an exclusive interview with Marca, quotes from which have started making their across to England and framed (or re-framed) into silly headlines (“they’re already killing me”).

But that sorts of narrative is just one of the pressures on the shoulders of Chelsea’s newest no.9, tasked with the challenge of not only replacing Diego Costa’s goals and impact, but also breaking the curse that has hung over that particular shirt number for much of the Roman Abramovich era. There is also the pressure of his transfer fee, a Chelsea club record, the pressure from the fans and media, and most of all, pressure from the coach who believed in him in the first place and now will rely on him to avoid a sophomore slump in England.

“I knew Conte loved me. I had talked to him many times. In a way, I felt indebted to him because I signed for Juventus and he had to go.

“Actually, at first I did not realise I was so interested in signing, but when I found out about their interest I did not hesitate. It was my preferred move.”

“I do not think I need to adapt to the Premier League, but to my new coach. I must understand Conte well, he asks me the opposite of what my previous coaches have asked me. I will play in different positions and with different game schemes. And that change I have already understood. From there, everything is easier."

The pressure to perform for an Italian coach is just one of the ominous parallels with a certain Fernando Torres. The pressure of a massive transfer fee is another.

“I admit it's a very big amount, but I have the personality to play quietly and go my way.

“I have had only two pre-season games (against Bayern Munich and Inter Milan), 15 competitive minutes (against Arsenal) and a missed penalty... and they're already killing me, so I know what's ahead.

"It is the price that must be paid for such a large transfer. And it's something that motivates me and makes me work harder every day. I know twice as many people are paying attention to me.”

Having gotten a later start than most of his teammates, Morata’s indoctrination into the ways of Conte is bubbling along nicely but belatedly. While it would not be surprising to see Michy Batshuayi get rewarded for his good past few months on either side of the summer break with a start on Saturday, the expectation is that it will be Morata who will carry the day most of the time for Chelsea.

“I want to score more than [last year’s total of 20 goals]. It's my job. But it is not an obsession for me ahead of winning titles for the team.

“For example, when I was with Juventus I did not score more than 20. But I won all the titles except for the Champions League. I have scored 15 or 16 goals and won titles. And other strikers have scored 35 and not won anything."

-Álvaro Morata; source: Marca via Evening Standard

With a World Cup year coming up, Morata will not be lacking for motivation to accomplish these goals and help Chelsea to a better title defense than two years ago.

"I think I had to leave Madrid. It was a difficult situation; I was leaving a team that's my home and who are winning everything at the moment. But it was a personal decision; it was to do with sporting ambition. If it had been for my team-mates, I would have stayed. I left because I want to succeed in football, to do great things.

“I'm at the best place to do that."