Alvaro Morata ‘didn’t feel loved or appreciated’ at Chelsea
The Spaniard struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge after signing for the club in 2017
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Your support makes all the difference.Alvaro Morata has said he “didn’t feel loved or appreciated” by Chelsea and the fans as he lifted the lid on his ill-fated stint in west London.
After signing for Chelsea for a then club-record fee of £70.6m in 2017, the Spaniard struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge and was earlier this year loaned out to Atletico Madrid.
The 26-year-old has since made no secret of his desire to remain in the Spanish capital, having described the move to the Wanda Metropolitano as the “best thing that could happen to me in my life”.
Speaking to Goal, Morata admitted that his time at Chelsea drained him of all his confidence.
“I had lost confidence in myself previously,” he said. “I was very upset by the opinion of the people in England. I think they caught me in the middle of everything.
“I didn't quite feel loved or appreciated by the club or the fans. I started very well at Chelsea, but an injury in the end leaves you dry.”
He added: “Now, signing for Atletico has been the best thing that could happen to me in my life.
“I had a very bad time in London. In the end I was training alone. I talked to Maurizio Sarri and he told me some things that I knew were not going to be as he had said. I was very nervous.”
Morata’s time at Chelsea was hampered by repeated injury troubles, to the point where he believes his teammates no longer trusted him.
Now, though, as an Atletico player, the Spaniard says he feels much more at home.
“As I arrive at the training centre (at Atletico), you can see in people's faces when they trust you. When you are in the dressing room ahead a game, you see how your team-mates look at you.
“At Chelsea there came a time when my team-mates, except for the Spaniards, well... you know, it is not the same when you play and you know that you give a pass to someone who is not going to do as well.
“You do not give the pass in the same way. Everyone who has played football once will understand that.”
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