Morata Out, Giroud Likely To Start

Antonio Conte has confirmed that duo Alvaro Morata and Andreas Christensen will both miss Monday’s trip to Watford.

Spanish striker Morata has been sidelined recently with a back problem, while Christensen was withdrawn in the first half of our defeat to Bournemouth through injury.

Neither will recover in time for Monday’s clash at Vicarage Road, although the boss reported that he hopes to see them both return soon. The Italian also confirmed that he has a couple of other players he needs to assess before the game.

‘Alvaro is still out,’ Conte said. ‘He has a problem in his back, he’s missing a lot of games and that’s not a good situation for him, for me or for the team. But I hope in the future we can solve this problem and I hope to have him back soon.

‘For Christensen, his first exam on his injury was positive but we have to wait, but for sure he’s out against Watford.

‘I then have to check a couple of situations before the game. Today is Friday and we have a couple of days to check on these players before we play Watford on Monday.’

Antonio was asked at his press conference whether new additions, Olivier Giroud and Emerson Palmieri, could be involved against Javi Gracia’s side.

The duo arrived at Stamford Bridge before the window closed – from Arsenal and Roma respectively – but the boss has stated that neither player will be rushed into the team, as they begin to work with their new teammates.

‘We have to wait because don’t forget, especially with Palmieri, we are talking about a player who is coming back from a bad injury and has only played one game in the Italian cup,’ said Conte.

‘Olivier was out for 50 days or so with a muscular injury before he played against Swansea [for Arsenal]. We have to get these players in to the best physical condition and then work with them to get them used to our way of playing.

‘Giroud we are starting to work with him but we have to check his physical condition, but it won’t be easy to see him from the start [against Watford].’

Story Courtesy of: premierleague.com