Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata has revealed the extent of the plight he suffered last season. “I only wanted to stay at home, there were a few tears…”
A lack of form and fitness saw Morata score just three goals between last Christmas and the end of the 2017-18 campaign, and the Spaniard – who was overlooked for the World Cup in Russia – admitted he was dealing with something ‘similar to depression’.
“I had a block in my head and I didn’t want to speak with anyone. I didn’t want to listen to anyone. I only wanted to stay at home. Probably it's not depression, but it’s similar,” he told The Mirror.
“In football it’s all about the head and in the last year I suffered in this aspect because I came here with a lot of expectation, a lot of pressure.
“I began well, but after I had these things. I had pain in the back. I don’t know why. I did a lot of things to try to recover but I couldn’t and I didn’t know why. It was hurting in my head.
“I don’t mind admitting there were a few tears. The manager called me at midnight and told me, ‘You are not in my plans.’ I am 25 years old. The World Cup was everything for me.
“I lived Real Madrid, with all the perfect things to grow up. I came to Chelsea to be in the squad for the World Cup — to get the chance to play in the starting eleven. But these things only make you grow up and make you stronger.
“The next day, I had a publicity shoot with Hugo Boss in a square in Madrid and I couldn’t put the right face.
“I knew there would be a lot of journalists asking me about the World Cup. I was supposed to be with Harry Kane and Philippe Coutinho, but I escaped. I went to Italy with my wife.”
