Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has said Alvaro Morata‘s below-par performance in the Blues’ pre-season clash with Arsenal may have been down to tiredness or a lack of confidence.
Morata missed a spot-kick in normal time and generally looked off the pace as Chelsea let a 1-0 lead slip in Dublin to draw 1-1, eventually losing 6-5 in a penalty shootout.
The Spaniard started the 2017/18 season brilliantly following his big-money move from Real Madrid but tailed off towards the end of the campaign, finishing with 15 goals across all competitions including 11 in the Premier League.
Unlike many of his Chelsea teammates, Morata was not involved at the World Cup in Russia after being left out of Spain’s squad
But Sarri still suggested tiredness could have had something to do with the 25-year-old’s underwhelming display against Arsenal.
“I don’t know if he’s not confident. Maybe he was tired,” Sarri said in a post-match press conference, according to football.london.
“The last three days for him have been very intense so maybe in this match he was tired. I am not worried about Morata.”
Morata had only recently returned to training following the birth of his twin sons, after Sarri had granted him initial leave from training.
Chelsea let early lead slip against Arsenal
Chelsea took the lead in the fifth minute against Arsenal when Antonio Rudiger headed in Cesc Fabregas’ corner.
Ten minutes later, teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi was tripped in the box by Hector Bellerin. Morata stepped up and missed his penalty.
Willian Late Arrival Baffles the Gaffer
Willian had been expected to return to Chelsea last Friday (July 27) following Brazil’s journey to the World Cup quarter-finals but failed to show up for his first pre-season training session.
The midfielder, who has 44 goals in 236 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions since joining from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013, has been linked with a summer move to Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United.
“I want to speak to Willian before I answer these questions,” Sarri said according to the Guardian, whose report claims Willian will miss Chelsea’s Community Shield clash with Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday.
“I am not happy about this situation but, before I answer, I would like to speak to him. Is it a strange situation? I think so.”
Willian has won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup during his time in England.
His relationship with former Blues boss Antonio Conte appeared to be strained last season, although the 29-year-old made 55 appearances in all competitions – the most he has ever made for Chelsea in a single season.
A Willian-less Chelsea side lost their most recent pre-season friendly on penalties to London rivals Arsenal in Dublin on Wednesday.