Alvaro Morata will only get BETTER for Chelsea and Fernando Torres ‘takes criticism personally’, reveals legend Frank Lampard
FRANK LAMPARD says Alvaro Moratta will only get better for Chelsea now he is playing in the Champions League.
Blues legend Lampard has been impressed by the impact the Spanish striker has made since his club record move from Real Madrid.
Morata has shrugged off the pressure of his £58million price tag, with three goals in four Premier League matches this season for the London club.
Now he will switch his attention to leading Chelsea's challenge for the Champions League - and Lampard believes there is more to come.
Writing for the Standard, Lampard said: "Alvaro Morata has already made a good start to his Chelsea career in the Premier League but playing in the Champions League will suit him even better.
"I watched him from afar when he was at Real Madrid and Juventus and I think he is the complete striker.
"Technically Alvaro is fantastic, as is his movement. He will be in his element on this stage.
"With players of Morata’s ability, performing in the Champions League is what it’s all about. It’s imperative.
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"Alvaro has already proven a few people here wrong who were questioning whether he could cope with the combative game in this country.
"At Leicester he went up against two of the most physical centre-halves in the League and came out with a goal and good performance. I think he can handle anything.
"Plus we haven’t seen him really link up with Eden Hazard yet. Great strikers feed off great players, so he will definitely get the chances he craves - it will be about sticking them away."
Morata has taken to his new club well since arriving - banishing fears he would fail to deliver under the weight of expecation.
Lampard admits it has meant he does not have to deal with the kind of mental challenges that proved too much for Fernando Torres when he signed from Liverpool in a £50m deal.
Lampard added: "I remember when Chelsea signed Torres - it was a huge statement by the club at the time.
"But there was a lot of talk around Fernando when he was struggling to score. The fans stuck behind him but you could see how he was taking the criticism from elsewhere personally.
"He was quietly spoken and at times when he was sitting in the dressing room, it looked like there was a huge weight on his shoulders.
"There is no answer to it other than scoring goals and it wasn’t coming easy for him. That is very tough to take, I don’t care what personality you have.
"So the fact Alvaro has hit the ground running takes that concern out of the equation."
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