Alvaro Morata admits that he feels like a “No. 1 striker” for the first time after he joined Chelsea for £70 million from Real Madrid.
Morata 11/1 to be PL top scorer
The Spain international has represented some of the biggest sides in world football, having also spent two years with Italian champions Juventus.
He won Serie A and graced the Champions League final while in Turin, while conquering Europe and La Liga with Real.
Morata netted 20 times for the Blancos last season, but made just 14 league starts and believes it has only been since moving to England that he has finally been recognised as a leading man.
Next Match
The 25-year-old told FourFourTwo: “This is perhaps the first time in my senior career that I've started five matches in a row, or felt like the No.1 striker at a club.
Playing Surface/Getty
“It’s a big responsibility being the main centre-forward at Chelsea, because you’re the team’s ‘referente’ – the reference point. You support every attacking move, because they look to get the ball into your feet or into the channels."
Morata settled quickly into life at Stamford Bridge, netting seven times in eight appearances – including a hat-trick against Stoke.
He has, however, suffered a similar dip to fellow big-money frontman Romelu Lukaku of late, matching the Manchester United striker’s six-game run without finding the target.
Morata is, however, still feeling upbeat and believes that he was always destined to work with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte again having previously been taken to Juve by the Italian coach.
He added: "After bringing me to Juventus before he joined Italy in 2014, I always thought that we would get back together. He’s gone to the death for me.
“His is a huge assist, if you like, for me coming to Chelsea, because I really wanted to renew that relationship with him and repay all the faith that he’s shown in me. I’ve already improved so much under him.”
Morata will be hoping to further justify the faith shown in him by Conte in his next outing, with Chelsea set to welcome Lukaku, Jose Mourinho and Manchester United to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
