Chelsea fans have had better periods.
Following back-to-back heavy defeats to beatable opposition and increased pressure on manager Antonio Conte, Blues supporters are eager for the shaky ship to steady.
Crucial to Chelsea’s chances of finishing in the Champions League places come the end of the season is the fitness of Alvaro Morata.
Morata has been out of action for the Premier League champions’ last five games with a back injury and although he trained this week, he is not expected to make the matchday squad for Monday’s clash with West Brom.
When providing an update on Morata’s injury, Conte admitted that he is unsure when the Spanish forward will be able to fully return to his best.
“Players like Morata, for us, are very important and have been missing for a long period of time,” Conte said.
“I don’t know how long he will be out. We are struggling a lot to find a solution to solve the pain in his back.
“If you ask me whether he needs a day, a month or the rest of the season, I don’t know. I don’t know. For this reason, I’m a bit worried. You know very well the importance of the player.”
Having scored 12 goals in 31 games for Chelsea since moving from Real Madrid for a club-record fee of £60 million, Morata quickly endeared himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful.
But the 25-year-old has admitted that he will always have a place in his heart for Madrid, the club at which Morata spent two separate spells, and would have to consider his future if the La Liga giants came calling.
After being asked what he would do if Zinedine Zidane picked up the phone tomorrow in a bid to re-sign Morata, he didn’t exactly distance himself from a return.
“I have to respect Chelsea who have made a great effort for me,” Morata told Espacio Reservado. “And I’m very happy here. But Madrid is always Madrid.”
While the comment could well have been a diplomatic one to a Spanish outlet, Chelsea supporters were not overly pleased with the suggestion that their frontman could be tempted away so easily.
Okay, we should really put a leash on our players here. Morata's literally 3rd player who's come out and is openly flirting with Madrid.
Maybe the guy is homesick but it's just unnecessary and so much disrespectful for a big club like #Chelsea. If at all we're one anymore.#CFC
— Derp (@der_pun) February 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/Simms91/status/962082826274426880
Morata can fuck off, he's shit anyway
— KANTE FC (@ImBlue_16) February 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/ronak_cfc/status/962216684512731136
Morata can fuck off already. the man wont play, if he plays he'll just lick the grass & he longs for Madrid ? each passing day proves letting @mbatshuayi go was a mistake @ChelseaFC
— nekalk (@tekihcanvk) February 10, 2018
Im backing Morata, but hes only bringing harm on himself when he says shit like "But Madrid is Madrid" just comes across as very ungrateful https://t.co/e9E1nUCPeE
— ForzaChelsea (@ForzaChelsea8) February 10, 2018
