Alvaro Morata, right, was on target in Chelsea's 3-2 Premier League win over Arsenal. Reuters
Alvaro Morata, right, was on target in Chelsea's 3-2 Premier League win over Arsenal. Reuters

Maurizio Sarri's style 'better for me' says Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata



Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata says he is confident of rediscovering his scoring touch under new manager Maurizio Sarri after netting only his second goal of 2018 in last week's 3-2 win over Arsenal.

Morata hit the goal trail after joining Chelsea from Real Madrid for a then club-record fee of around £60 million (Dh284m) in the summer of 2017, scoring seven goals in his first eight games for the club including a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Stoke City.

The goals soon dried up for the Spain international though, with only four more goals in the rest of 2017 and one in 2018 before scoring the second of Cheslea's goals against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

Morata said the direct style employed by former manager Antonio Conte did not suit him - a sentiment echoed by several of his teammates - and the former Juventus player expects to have more chances to score with Sarri's possession-based game.

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Read more:

Steve Luckings: Sarri's faith in Barkley is good news for one England international at Chelsea, not so good for another

Chelsea can make Stamford Bridge a fortress again believes Alvaro Morata

Chelsea edge Arsenal in five-goal thriller to move top of Premier League table

Richard Jolly: Rise of goalkeeper fees a sign of changes in modern football

Willian: No chance I'd still be at Chelsea if Conte was still in charge

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"The most important thing is the mode we play," Morata told Chelsea TV. "Last year it was direct, I had to protect the ball in the air and that's not my best quality.

"Now I can attack the spaces, play one-touch and go into the area for the crosses which is better for me. The manager works with the ball always and when you work with the ball you have more chances, and the strikers have more chances."

Chelsea, who began their Premier League campaign with a 3-0 win away to Huddersfield Town, travel to Newcastle United on Sunday looking to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season.

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Goalkeepers: Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Adel Al Hosani

Defenders: Bandar Al Ahbabi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Mohammed Barghash, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Hassan Al Mahrami, Yousef Jaber, Salem Rashid, Mohammed Al Attas, Alhassan Saleh

Midfielders: Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Majed Hassan, Yahya Nader, Ahmed Barman, Abdullah Hamad, Khalfan Mubarak, Khalil Al Hammadi, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Harib Abdallah, Mohammed Jumah, Yahya Al Ghassani

Forwards: Fabio De Lima, Caio Canedo, Ali Saleh, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

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The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

World Cup final

Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region

The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK 

Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
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Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

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Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

What's in the deal?

Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024

India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.

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Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments

India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery

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The biog

Fast facts on Neil Armstrong’s personal life:

  • Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio
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Things Heard & Seen

Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton

2/5