Maurizio Sarri pays tribute to Alvaro Morata

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has branded Alvaro Morata "a quality player" who is "fast and technically gifted".

Morata, 26, struggled for goals at the start of the 2018-19 campaign, but the Spaniard has scored four times in his last five Premier League appearances for the Blues.

Since arriving at Stamford Bridge from Real Madrid in the summer of 2017, Morata has netted 21 times in 64 appearances for the London club.

Sarri has preferred Morata to Olivier Giroud in recent weeks, and the new Blues boss has lavished praise on the Spaniard for overcoming a difficult period.

"Morata is a quality player, fast and technically gifted. He's a sensible person and the difficulties had hurt him. The results and the quality of our football are positive," Sarri told reporters.

Chelsea will return to Premier League action with a clash against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.