Fernando Torres will no doubt sympathise with the situation Alvaro Morata finds himself in. He know what it’s like for a Spanish international striker to arrive at Chelsea as the new club record signing and fail to convince supporters of their worth.
Although he looked a shadow of his former self at Stamford Bridge, never reaching double figures in the Premier League, Torres remained there for three-and-a-half seasons. He often seemed off the pace and unsuited to the club’s style of play but collected three trophies all the same. Whether Morata will get the chance to emulate that remains to be seen.
Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester United represents a chance for him to collect some silverware, but it’s uncertain whether or not he will start. Olivier Giroud was selected ahead of Morata for the semi-final, and although he came off the bench to score the second and confirm Chelsea’s progress, he’s far from an automatic choice for Antonio Conte.
This isn’t the state of affairs that either player or manager expected to be contemplating after a £60million deal was confirmed last summer. There are mitigating circumstances, such as an ongoing back injury and a change of system that have limited his impact, but there's no disguising the fact that Morata has had a disappointing first season in English football.
Watching on from the bench as Chelsea went 3-0 down to Newcastle United on Sunday, extinguishing any faint hopes they had of qualifying for the Champions League, was a reminder of how far things have gone awry. Conte’s future is complicated, and subject to much speculation, but so is Morata’s. Many wonder if he is up to the task of leading the line for a club that expects to challenge on all fronts.
Morata originally enjoyed a flying start to life in the Premier League, scoring six goals in his first six games, including a splendid hat-trick against Stoke City at the end of September. They were three well-taken goals, but the second in particular caught the eye. Starting with a driving run from deep, he accelerated past the covering Darren Fletcher and nonchalantly lifted the ball over Jack Butland from an angle.
The mix of pace, directness and composure was captivating. It hinted that Morata had the right combination of attributes to thrive against Premier League defences but he’s found it hard going in the months that have followed. He’s scored just five more goals in the league since then, and only one, in defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, after the turn of the year.
Eleven goals in 31 league appearances is a poor return on Chelsea’s investment, but in keeping with Morata’s records for Real Madrid and Juventus. He’s a clever, technical striker who links up play well, but has never been a prolific goalscorer. A litany of misses, particularly from one-on-one situations mounted throughout the season. Two of the most glaring came in a draw at Arsenal, where his shots lacked any sort of conviction.
Olivier Giroud arrived not long after, ostensibly as a back-up option who would present a different and more physical challenge to defenders. Remarkably he’s taken Morata’s place and looked more of a threat in recent weeks. His FA Cup pedigree may count in his favour when it comes to Conte finalising his team to face Manchester United.
Juventus are rumoured to be interested in re-signing Morata despite his difficulties in England. Significant changes will certainly be afoot at Chelsea this summer and there remains a temptation to persist with the 25-year-old, reshaping the team in a way that will hopefully get the best out of him. Whether they do or not, he's done little to inspire such faith that he can be the long-term answer up front.
