Chelsea are hopeful striker Alvaro Morata will return for the team’s Champions League fixture against Roma on Wednesday night.
The Blues have missed Morata greatly while he has been recouping from a hamstring injury. The Spanish striker has missed the team’s last three matches. However, manager Antonio Conte has his fingers crossed that Morata will appear in this week’s Champions League fixture.
Chelsea’s 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday was not only the team’s third of the season, but it handed the Eagles their first win. Chelsea’s defence was impervious a season ago. However the Blues allowed Crystal Palace to score their first two goals of the season.
Chelsea have the blues
Chelsea’s have lost back-to-back Premier League games, and the team has nearly equalled their total number of losses from last term. Without Morata to lead the line, Chelsea have had to make due with Michy Batshuayi playing as their No. 9. He has been incredibly ineffective.
Just as important as Morata, the Blues were without midfield general N’Golo Kante at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
“To lose a player like Kante is not simple because he’s able to cover a lot of the pitch,” Conte said after the game.
“But, for sure, I have to think also to take into consideration a solution.
“You know very well that the balance is very important if you want to win. The balance is very important. For sure, today, our balance was poor.
“Moses is out because he’s injured. I don’t know if his injury is serious or not. I hope not.
“Kante is still out, and I hope to have Morata back for this game.”
Chelsea take on Roma on Wednesday night at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League. Chelsea are the leaders of group C with Roma sitting second on four points. Atletico Madrid are third on one point, while Qarabag are not yet off the mark.