Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has confirmed his choice to play with both Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata, who was replaced by Eden Hazard later in the second half, could be proposed again as the run for a Champions League spot goes on.
The Italian boss told journalists: “This could be an option, a possibility for Sunday or the future. This was the first time we try this solution with two strikers and we had great responses about them. For sure in the future it could be an option, a good option”.
“When you have players to show you the desire and will to sacrifice for the team without the ball it is great. We surprised Burnley with two strikers.”
When asked if Morata’s mistakes from a close range influenced his decision to take him off with 20 minutes left to go, Conte added: “No, no, no. Honestly. Around 70 minutes I thought that it was better to put fresh strength with Hazard. He is a player that has different characteristics to Morata. But I must be honest I am very pleased for Morata and Giroud’s performances, they played very well.”
“To see Giroud and Morata, to play in this way and see good combination and link with them and then the desire to run and press with and without the ball, this is the right way to have satisfaction in the future.”
When asked about Morata’s reaction on the bench, he added: “I am not angry at him, Alvaro must be angry, because when you have the chance to score you have to score, especially for a striker because it can change your confidence. I think he was very angry with himself for his missed chance. But I have to see his whole performance and also even if he didn’t score I was very happy”.
“It was a situation I had in my mind and it wasn’t possible in the past to play with two strikers. They played very well and did a great job, as did the whole team. It is not simple to see two strikers and we must be pleased to see them sacrifice without the ball.”