Alvaro Morata will score all types of goals for Chelsea says La Liga expert Gerry Armstrong
Former Northern Ireland star lets Blues supporters know exactly what they will get from the £65m striker
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SPANISH football expert and former Northern Ireland star Gerry Armstrong says Chelsea are signing a “classic No9” in Alvaro Morata.
Antonio Conte’s hunt for a new forward is now on the verge of coming to an end with the capture of the Real Madrid star.
The 24-year-old has arrived in London to undergo a medical ahead of his £65million move to the Premier League champions.
Armstrong, a World Cup hero for his country in 1982, is better placed than most to let Blues supporters know exactly what they can expect from the star.
He has spent more than two decades covering La Liga for Sky Sports.
The 63-year-old has got to watch the forward on numerous occasions and knows exactly what attributes the Spaniard possesses.
And Chelsea fans look like they are in for a right treat.
Here Armstrong tells SunSport exactly what they can expect:
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What are Morata’s main qualities?
I have watched Morata develop over the past few years with Madrid.
And Chelsea have acquired a very talented individual in the shape of the 24-year-old Spain international.
For those who haven’t seen him play in La Liga, Morata’s style is similar to the classic No.9 British-style centre forward.
He has great strength in the air, unbelievable pace, and is very sharp in the box.
He scores all types of different goals: tap-ins, long range shots, and has this knack of being in the right place at the right time.
I have seen him score plenty of goals with his head at the far post. Or smash them in on volleys from the edge of the box.
He is an excellent finisher. All he needs is the time to mature. As well as the chance to play a full season.
Does he have the character to survive in the Premier League?
Absolutely. He spent two seasons with Juventus and during that time he learned how to play and score against Italian teams, which is a difficult skill.
For Real Madrid, he became a team player and accepted his role. Zinedine Zidane chose to rotate his squad during the 2016-17 season – a policy that was rewarded with the La Liga title and a Champions League defence. And Morata didn’t kick up a fuss.
One week, Morata would come on and score a few goals. The next few he would be back on the bench. Yet he remained the ultimate team player. He got on with the job, scoring 15 goals in 26 league games.
There is a story that, in 2014, he shaved his head as a gesture for sick children. “The kids with cancer wanted to have my haircut but they couldn’t, so I have myself theirs.” That story says a lot about him.
He has personality and character to succeed at the highest level.
Having now emerged from the shadows of Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, Morata will now become the main man at Chelsea, especially if and when Diego Costa leaves.
Chelsea have done excellent business in my opinion.
Why do some Spanish players failed to settle in the PL?
It’s all to do with their mental strength in my opinion.
Some of the players come to England, look at the Premier League wages and think they have made it. And yet they don’t have the mental strength to perform consistently.
You have to focus and knuckle down.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte will be great for him. The Italian’s mentality, of hard work and discipline, will prove to be great experience for a player like Morata.
What advice would you give him?
Learning English is important.
When I went to Mallorca in 1983, I didn’t speak a word of Spanish. And none of the players in the dressing room spoke any English.
So, it was difficult for me to fit in straightaway.
If Morata learns the language quickly, then he will become the perfect Premier League package.
Sky Sports’ new dedicated football channel is the home of La Liga this season. Sky Sports will show 380 La Liga games live, offering customers more content and choice than ever before.
Sky Sports’ new dedicated football channel is the home of La Liga this season. Sky Sports will show 380 La Liga games live, offering customers more content and choice than ever before.
