Conte calls for Morata improvement

Alvaro Morata must improve his condition to be ready for the new Premier League season, believes Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.

Club-record signing Morata made his first start for Chelsea in a 2-1 International Champions Cup defeat to Inter in Singapore on Saturday, with Stevan Jovetic and Ivan Perisic on target for the Serie A side before Geoffrey Kondogbia’s comical own goal.

The striker, who joined from Real Madrid for a reported £70million fee, started on the left of a front three with Michy Batshuayi playing down the middle, but the Spain international struggled to make an impression.

And Conte accepted Morata has work to do on his fitness, with the Community Shield against Arsenal set to get Chelsea’s campaign under way on August 6.

“Morata is just starting to train with us,” Conte told reporters. “He has to improve his condition a lot to adapt quickly into our team.

“He is working well but it has been only five days. Today he tried to do his best but for sure he has to improve.”

Antonio Conte makes time to sign some shirts on his way to the team coach… #CFCTourpic.twitter.com/XnexWEf20r

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 29, 2017

Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Asia saw Conte’s men defeated twice, the Premier League champions having previously lost 3-2 to Bayern Munich, and the Italian suggested a tight schedule affected results.

But Conte understands the pressure he is working under, with Chelsea having sacked Jose Mourinho seven months after winning the title in 2015.

“I think that we played against two strong teams, Bayern and Inter, in a period that is an important period where we are working very hard,” Conte said. “To play three games with the same players, they are tired, very tired, because we played three games with the same players.

Mmmmh disallowed goals even on pre-season still have a bitter taste lol thx anyway @ Singapore had fun there !! #CFCTour pic.twitter.com/gQ5DHfqmiX

— Michy Batshuayi (@mbatshuayi) July 29, 2017

“We know it will be difficult in the new season. Two years ago the team ended the league in 10th place and we want to try to avoid this. Two coaches [Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti] were sacked after they won the league so for sure I want to avoid it.

“We are working very hard and I hope to find the best solution in the future. We have a lot of young players and it is necessary to try to improve them.”

Thanks for your amazing support, Singapore! #CFCTour