Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is angry with the club board following Alvaro Morata’s hamstring injury which highlighted the Italian’s lack of attacking options, according to reports.
Morata, 24, having adjusted really well to the rigorous nature of the Premier League has scored seven goals for the Premier League champions since his arrival from Real Madrid in the summer, suffered a hamstring injury in the 1-0 defeat to Manchester City last Saturday.
The 24-year-old has now pulled out of international duty with Spain and is now in a race to be fit for Chelsea’s away game to Crystal Palace on October 14.
According to The Times, Conte is unhappy that Chelsea’s hierarchy were unable to sign a back-up option to Morata in the summer and believes the club ‘bungled’ the deal to sign Fernando Llorente from Swansea City.
Llorente, who was wanted by Conte in the January transfer window, ended up joining Tottenham, which meant the Premier League champions were unable to begin negotiations for an alternative striker at such short notice.
The Times also claims that Conte is unhappy that Nigerian attacker Tammy Abraham was allowed to join Swansea City on loan without a replacement being signed.
Michy Batshuayi could be called upon if Morata fails to be fit for the match against Palace, but Conte does not appear to view the Belgian as a like-for-like replacement.