Alvaro Morata was supposed to bring Chelsea all of Diego Costa’s goals with none of the drama and immensely more skill and finesse. Instead, the complete opposite has occurred and Chelsea have an impending crisis on their hands.
Alvaro Morata did not deserve his eighth yellow card of the season. Match official Anthony Taylor booked Morata and Crystal Palace’s James Tomkins in the 86′ for an altercation wholly of Tomkins’ doing. After hacking Eden Hazard all game, Tomkins turned belligerent on Andreas Christensen in Chelsea’s box. Minutes later, Tomkins tried the same routine at the other end for Morata, and both players saw yellow.
And minutes after that, Morata earned what should have been at least his eighth yellow card, if not his first straight red card, of the season. The linesman on Chelsea’s right side made the wrong call, awarding Crystal Palace a goal kick when he should have signaled a Chelsea corner kick. Morata and Davide Zappacosta immediately shouted their displeasure, but then Morata swatted the flag out of the linesman’s hands.
In a season when respect for the officials and a crackdown on dissent are supposedly high priorities for the Football Association and Premier League, only by a miracle did Morata finish the game on the pitch. If the FA does not punish him retrospectively for his actions, Antonio Conte should for bringing himself, the game and the club into disrepute.
This was the most objective, clear-cut display of Morata’s immaturity and petulance. Even if you think the officials are biased against him and / or Chelsea, swallowing their whistles for clear fouls, there is no excuse for Morata’s actions. He was a child throwing a temper tantrum, not a passionate professional protesting on behalf of his side.
Alvaro Morata is turning into a greater disciplinary liability than Diego Costa, without the offensive production as an offset. Morata now has eight Premier League yellow cards and 11 in all competitions. If not for an arcane bit of rule-making he would be suspended for the upcoming fixtures against Leicester City and Tottenham. Before long, he will be forced to sit out.
Morata’s eight league yellows match Diego Costa’s total from each of the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons. Last season, with one foot and his heart out the door, Costa received 10 yellows. In those three seasons, Costa scored 20, 12 and 20 goals, respectively. Morata has been parked on 10 goals since Boxing Day.
Since that last Premier League goal, Morata has received seven yellows, including the double-yellow against Norwich in the FA Cup. His confidence is low. He has been through some personal hardship. And now he is competing against Eden Hazard and Olivier Giroud for the starting spot.
However, he has no excuse for his actions towards the official on Saturday. If a player flares up at another player – as Tomkins did – that is understandable. Passions and emotions boil over, and you shove, kick or speak out. Worthy of a punishment, but understandable. But flaring up at an official and lashing out physically is a different beast. From the earliest ages player learn to respect the officials and leave them out of it. Even if you subscribe to the Mark Clattenburg philosophy that officials are the third team on the pitch, they are a team operating at a remove from the other two. What Alvaro Morata did, you just do not do. Ever.
Next: Player ratings vs. Palace: Willian. Olivier Giroud lead a proper offence
Morata’s performance and attitude is opening the door for Olivier Giroud, and the Frenchman is strolling right through it with his performance and attitude. Before long, Antonio Conte will not need an excuse to bench Alvaro Morata for the big games. Morata’s inevitable suspension may go unnoticed.