Sarri gives update on Morata future; raves over Jorginho display

Maurizio Sarri has indicated that Alvaro Morata has a future at Chelsea after an improved display in the friendly clash with Inter Milan on Saturday.

The Spain frontman has been the subject of transfer speculation all summer, but played 65 minutes in a penalty-shootout victory over the Italian giants in the International Champions Cup in Nice.

Sarri had previously been unimpressed with Morata in pre-season, but praised him on Saturday evening – although he was still calling for improvement in the former Real Madrid attacker, who scored just 11 Premier League goals last season.

“I’m still waiting for the best Morata,” Sarri said.

“In the first match [against Perth Glory] Morata did not play very well, in Australia.

“But tonight, especially in the first 30 minutes, he improved a lot. I am satisfied and I am very confident in him for the future.”

Sarri was also full of praise for Blues new boy Jorginho, who scored Chelsea’s first penalty in a shootout which the Blues won 5-4.

The Italian midfielder, who worked with Sarri at Napoli, played for 90 minutes and impressed.

“For Jorginho, this is a normal match,” Sarri told the club’s website. “He has technical ability but Jorginho also has a great mental speed, too. So for this way of football, I think Jorginho is a wonderful player.

“All over the pitch, though, we move the ball very quickly and we moved it well tonight, but not at the right speed.

“You have to move the ball at a great speed on the floor. Otherwise, we risk to play for 90 minutes with 75 per cent ball possession but without scoring. That’s what we need to improve on.”

Sarri, meanwhile, will hand Eden Hazard the captain’s armband at Chelsea in an attempt to keep him out of Real Madrid’s clutches. Read the full story here…

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