Chelsea confident Morata injury is not serious
Chelsea are confident an injury Alvaro Morata picked up against Manchester City will not prove to be serious.
The striker went off with what looked looked like a hamstring problem 10 minutes before half-time at Stamford Bridge, where the Blues were beaten 1-0.
Boss Antonio Conte indicated that Morata was taken off as a precaution after asking to be substituted to avoid suffering a serious injury.
Conte believes Morata is unlikely to be fit for international duty with Spain but is optimistic Chelsea’s medical staff will confirm the injury is not a cause for alarm.
“It’s a muscular problem. I don’t think it is a serious problem,” said Conte.
“He said to me: ‘I prefer to stop, otherwise I risk having a bad injury’.
“The doctor in the next few days has to check the situation. I don’t think he will be available for the national team.”
Conte praised his players for their effort despite the disappointing result – and said he decided to bring on Willian for Morata because he believed the Brazilian could exploit space in behind City’s defence.
