Alvaro Morata doesn’t know if Jose Mourinho pushed Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas out of the Spain squad but hinted he wouldn’t be shocked.
Morata appeared on ‘La Café de La Roja’ ahead of Spain’s game against Belarus, having been named in the senior squad in the absence of Costa, who was left out of the group in order to give him a rest, a decision praised by Mourinho.
Juventus striker Morata was under Mourinho before the Chelsea manager left Santiago Bernabeu for a return to Stamford Bridge and was asked if he thought that the Portuguese had influenced Cesc and Costa.
“I don’t know what’s happened there. Mourinho is hard in every way and has a lot of character,” Morata said, according to AS.
“He certainly pushes things to his benefit.”
Morata could make a debut senior appearance for Spain in the Euro 2016 qualifier and dismissed the suggestion he has walked into an unhappy squad.
“I’ve found this to be a very excited group. We’re all aware it’s impossible to repeat what has been achieved before,” he admitted.
“I will always wear this shirt and give my all, try to win as much as possible for everyone. It’s hard to better one of the greatest teams in history to have won playing and giving a great show.
“It is very difficult to overcome that, but we’ll try.”
Morata is competing with Paco Alcacer for a place in the Spain side to play Belarus – and Germany in a friendly next week – but says the pair can play together.
“We played together and won the Euro Under-19s. Alcaer is my friend and I admire him very much,” Morata added.
“Alcacer has some moves that are hard to play against. He’s a real No.9. I try to pay attention to his movement and he’s a genuine goal scorer. Hopefully I can play with him.”
Morata also explained the circumstances surrounding his suspension from Spain Under-21s crucial and ultimately unsuccessful European Under-21 Championships play-off.
“I got booked in the 93d minute and didn’t really know that it meant a suspension. Enough sleep has passed to take the feeling away. I carry it in my heart,” he recalled.
“I was told it was three cards for a suspension. It was a disaster all round. Maybe we were all a little relaxed because we had won a lot of games in a row.
“After we were knocked out we sat down for dinner and to think we were without the European Championships stung me all over.
“The new players haven’t played in the Euros and might leave the Under-21s without doing so.
“I know what it’s like to win the Under-21 Euros and that’s why I was so angry. But we’ve always got the Olympics.”
