Morata: I suffered due to Conte's style

Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata says Antonio Conte's tactics were part of the reason he "suffered" in his first season in the Premier League.

Morata made an explosive start to his Stamford Bridge career, scoring six goals in six league appearances at the start of 2017-18, but things quickly soured for the Spain international.

A mysterious back problem blighted much of the campaign and he only scored a further five goals in the top flight and four in cup competitions.

Morata has shown encouraging signs of a return to form since Maurizio Sarri replaced Conte as head coach, however, scoring his first goal of the season in last month's 3-2 win over Arsenal, and thinks he is better suited to the new system.

When asked if he feels more comfortable with Sarri in charge, he told Cadena SER: "Yes, yes, yes. For me, yes. It's not for nothing, but for the style of play. It wasn't my style of play and I suffered a little because of that."

Morata has previously described how he played part of last season while taking painkilling injections he received from a doctor in Germany, with his form suffering as a result.

The forward, a reported £60million signing from Real Madrid last year, admits he would do things differently if the problem reared its head again.

"In today's world, it's normal that these [critical] things are said," he added. "Chelsea made a huge effort for me and it wasn't returned. I should have repaid them double. A player they pay for can't finish the season with 15 goals.

"People think we're machines. If I had stopped for three months, I would have come back with a clear head, but I was professional and I wanted to give everything.

"If I could go back, I would stop for two months. I was in pain, I went to Germany to see the doctor, paying for private planes. People believe the false life of Instagram, what it shows you; they thought I was at home with my wife. Someday, I'll write a book about what I've been through."

🔥Messi snub has cost FIFA awards their credibility, says Filipe Luis*

Sep 05, 2018

Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis insists Lionel Messi is the best footballer in the world, despite his omission from the shortlist for the Best FIFA Men's Player award.

Despite inspiring Barcelona to a domestic double of LaLiga and the Copa del Rey in 2017-18, Messi was overlooked for the final three-man list in favour of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mohamed Salah.

Antoine Griezmann claimed it was "bizarre" a FIFA award will not recognise any of France's World Cup-winning stars, but his Atletico team-mate thinks it is ignoring Messi that ruins the credibility of the prize.

"The award is for the best player in the world. For me, today, it's Messi. Just like in previous years," he told Globoesporte.

"When he's not there, it loses credibility. It doesn't matter who wins the World Cup or the Champions League. He's the best."

Filipe Luis was tipped to join Paris Saint-Germain during the transfer window, only for the move to fall through.

The Brazil international has now criticised Atletico for painting him as the villain of a transfer wrangle, insisting he was happy to accept their decision not to sell him.

"The opportunity to go to PSG came up and I mentioned it to Atletico. I asked them to let me go, in the same way they did with Gabi [who joined Al Sadd]," he explained.

"The club understood it wasn't the same situation, despite the similarities with the remaining time on our contracts.

"They said I insisted, but it's a lie. I have a history with Atletico and that makes me sad, because they tried to worsen my image at the club."

🔥Ozil has closed the door to Germany, insists Low*

Sep 05, 2018

Germany head coach Joachim Low has ruled out the prospect of Mesut Ozil returning to the national team.

Arsenal star Ozil announced he was leaving international football in July after accusing German Football Federation (DFB) president Reinhard Grindel of discrimination and "incompetence".

The outburst came after the midfielder felt he had been unfairly targeted from criticism following his meeting in May with controversial Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In his statement, Ozil said he would not be available for Germany "whilst I have this feeling of racism and disrespect", suggesting he could return to the set-up if there are institutional changes within the DFB.

However, in Low's view, the 29-year-old's international career is at an end.

"In my view, Mesut Ozil has clearly declared his retirement and closed the door by himself with that, so a comeback is not a topic," he told Sport Bild.

Low stated last week he had tried and failed to get in touch with Ozil after his announcement, admitting he was disappointed the player did not inform of his intentions.

"Mesut did not call me, not to this very day," he said. "I tried to reach him several times in the past two weeks, via text message, via phone. Mesut has decided to take this path. I must accept it.

"Ozil has been my player for nine years. We've experienced a lot together. A few lows, but more highs. We've won the World Cup. This will still stay forever.

"I am still of the opinion that he was one of the best players we had in Germany in the last 20, 30 years. One day, we'll have a conversation. I would have wished for him to inform me personally, and I was disappointed at first."