Alvaro Morata: 'I was wrong to play with pain'

Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata has admitted that he was wrong to play for the Blues while suffering from a back injury.

The Spaniard, who missed several games in December with the issue, returned to the side in January for a brief period before aggravating the injury.

Morata made his first appearance since January 17 in Chelsea's 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on Monday evening, but admitted that he should not have played for Chelsea earlier in the year.

"[Antonio Conte] is the one who bets on me and that's the truth," the 25-year-old told reporters.

"At the end of the day, a great club has given me the opportunity to play as a starter and to grow.

"That is until the physical problems arrived. I was wrong to play with pain. I wasn't okay to play."

Blues boss Conte gave January signing Olivier Giroud his first start for the club in Monday evening's victory.