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.
Alexandre Lacazette levelled things up in the third minute of stoppage time, tapping in a low cross from close range.
And the Gunners ran out 6-5 winners on penalties as Petr Cech decisively saved Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s spot-kick.
Chelsea will face Manchester City in Sunday’s Community Shield final at Wembley.
The post Maurizio Sarri suggests fatigue could have been the reason for Morata’s below par performance vs Arsenal appeared first on Squawka News.
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