Sarri claims Man City and Liverpool are a step ahead of Chelsea
Maurizio Sarri heaped praise upon Alvaro Morata for his match-winning brace in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace.
Morata netted twice as the Blues beat Palace at Stamford Bridge to give Maurizio Sarri a record-equalling start to Premier League management.
The Spaniard’s first-half strike was cancelled out by Andros Townsend as Chelsea struggled to subdue their vibrant visitors, for whom Wilfried Zaha starred.
But Eden Hazard, back from a three-game absence with a back problem, provided the striker’s second with his first touch, sending over a free-kick which Morata expertly diverted into the net.
The often derided Spain frontman now has five goals in his past six Chelsea games and Pedro added a third soon afterwards as the Blues moved second in the table, above Liverpool on goal difference.
“I am really very happy for Alvaro [Morata],” Sarri told Match of the Day.
“He improved in the last month in confidence and personality. He improved also from a tactical and technical point of view. He plays with more continuity from the team. He has great potential physically and technically. He can improve more. Potentially he can be (a top striker at a top club). Sometimes he is a little bit fragile.
“We were a little bit in trouble so we needed some quality and personalty. We were lucky because we had Eden [Hazard] on the bench. He was able to immediately change the match.
“From the first day, Manchester City and Liverpool are at the moment a step ahead of us. When I arrive the gap from last season as 30 points with City. It is difficult to think you can recover this gap in one season, in six months. We need to improve more because we are doing well.
“We need to improve from a tactical point of view. In the first 15 minutes of the second half we were not compact. In the defensive phase we need to improve. When we can’t cover the ball in the opponent’s half we are in trouble. So we need to improve.”