Maurizio Sarri has backed Spanish centre-forward Morata to turn around his goal-scoring form after netting the sole goal against Hungarian opposition Mol Vidi in the Europa League.
The Spaniard endured a difficult spell in the game, including missing a sitter in the first interval of the game in-front of Chelsea faithful. However the player was able to calm tension with an attempt 20 minutes from time to ensure Chelsea grabbed all victory.
Morata has struggled in the current season, with the Spanish centre-forward reminisced the woes of former Spanish striker Fernando Torres at Chelsea, but the former Real Madrid striker can take solace from the second goal.
Sarri being critical of the condition of the Spaniard believes that this could be the turning point.
“I hope so, but he has to start again from this performance,” Sarri said. “I think he has played very well. Better than in the last period. He has to be confident from this performance. I think Alvaro can restart from this performance.
“I am very happy for him. It is very important for him to score – and for him to play a good match because I think he played a good match.
“Of course for us, he’s a very important player. At the moment, we have Alvaro and [Olivier] Giroud but we have to play every three days for a long time – I hope. So he’s a very important player for us – for our season, I think.”
Morata looked emotional after his goal and close to tears. “If after a goal he wants to cry, I hope to see him cry very often,” said his boss.
Sarri also had reason to be happy with a decent cameo off the bench from the oft-maligned Ross Barkley, who has also been recalled to his national team.
“I am very happy for him,” said the Italian. “He had a very serious injury last season, now he’s recovering very well and he’s improving – match by match, week by week.
“I am very happy with him and I think that he can have a very important future in this club and for the national team.”