London: Alvaro Morata and Romelu Lukaku will be under pressure to fire their teams back into the Premier League title race when the misfiring strikers clash Sunday in Chelsea’s showdown with Manchester United.
Chelsea forward Morata and United front man Lukaku were the toast of their clubs after celebrating their close-season transfers with a barrage of goals.
But, with Chelsea and United battling to keep pace with leaders Manchester City, Morata and Lukaku have lost their Midas touch at the wrong moment, putting them under the microscope at Stamford Bridge this weekend.
Lukaku was off to a fast start, netting 11 times in his first 10 games. However, now the 24-year-old Belgian finds himself in the midst of a barren spell stretching back six games to the end of September. His non-performance has left the fans baffled and coach Jose Mourinho surprised.
Lukaku has responded to the doubters by admitting he is still a work in progress. “You can’t judge me as the finished article. I’d rather have a career where year after year I improve rather than going to the top and decline,” he told reporters Saturday.
“I know I have a lot of talent, but I want to have more assists, I want to make sure when my team are in difficulties they can count on me,” he added.
After missing out on Lukaku, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte settled for Morata as an expensive consolation prize. Morata hit the ground running with seven goals in his first seven games following his club record £58 million ($75 million) move from Real Madrid.
But, like Lukaku, the 25-year-old Spaniard has failed to score in his last six games, earning criticism for some lethargic displays.
In the circumstances, Morata and Lukaku could do with silencing the critics by producing a priceless winner at the Bridge.
Fourth placed Chelsea are four points behind second placed United and nine points adrift of table-toppers City.
Mourinho will be hoping for better luck on his latest return to Chelsea – the club where he won three English titles and was sacked twice – after United lost both their visits last season.
Abused by Chelsea fans during United’s 0-4 and 0-1 defeats last season, Mourinho insisted he doesn’t attach special significance to the fixture.
“It isn’t a big thing. It’s normal, it’s football. One day you are in one club, the next day you’re in another club,” Mourinho pointed out.
Agence France-Presse
