ALVARO MORATA has been backed to cope with the pressure of being Chelsea’s No 1 striker.
The club-record £65million signing, who linked up with Antonio Conte’s squad in Singapore this weekend, has been bought to fill the boots of Diego Costa.
Blues’ Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta said: “I know him as a team-mate in the national team and I know he is a very good addition for the club.
“It’s his first experience in the Premier League but he played in Italy, he played for Real Madrid, living with high pressure his whole life as a striker. He scored a lot of goals for the national team and in big competitions.
Despite limited opportunities in Madrid, Morata netted 15 goals in 26 La Liga games last term and has nine in 20 matches for Spain.
Azpilicueta added: “He’s going to bring his qualities and he can do very well. He knows the manager. He knows the way we play. He will adapt quick and I’m sure he will adapt and score many goals.’
Cesc Fabregas says Morata, 24, and Belgian hitman Michy Batshuayi, 23, are both under pressure to deliver.
He said: “They are taking this challenge and they will be under pressure.
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“When you’re the striker of a top team this is what you live with and they will have to cope with it.”
Fabregas is looking forward to linking up with his Spain team-mate Morata.
He said: “I’ve always had a good understanding with him. He’s always been a striker with a little bit of everything.
“He has a lot of potential, the same as Michy Batshuayi. It’s up to them how far they want to go.
“They are two young strikers who will have to improve as quick as possible because they are our main strikers.
“And if you are going to fight for all competitions, you need your strikers to score lots of goals.
Batshuayi netted twice in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Arsenal in Beijing.
And the Belgian may get more chances to impress after struggling last season following his £33m switch from Marseille.
Batshuayi made one Premier League start and had 19 run-outs as sub, netting five times.
But only 13 players racked up ten or more Prem appearances as the Blues stormed to the title.
Fabregas said: “Last season because of the schedule with no Champions League — and we went out early in the League Cup — we were all fit for most of the season. We basically had every week off.
“The manager didn’t have to make a lot of changes. I paid for it, Michy paid for it, Willian paid for it.
“So we had to keep working and wait for our chance.
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