Zidane Laments Lack Of Morata Replacement

Zinedine Zidane has conceded Real Madrid are lacking the options up front, after they failed to replace
Alvaro Morata, following his move to Chelsea.

The Spain international striker joined the Blues from Real Madrid, after getting tired of playing understudy to Karim Benzema.

Morata has been a revelation for Chelsea, scoring three goals and assisting two in five games. And Zidane has talked up his lack of strikers, with Mayoral the only other striker, aside Benzema.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League opener with APOEL, Zidane said: “In the end, it’s true that when you look at the players we had, like Morata and Mariano [Diaz], now when you look, you only see Mayoral.

“You may think that we are lacking a ‘number nine’, and maybe we are. But in the end it was not possible to get one.

“Most crucial was the situation of Morata. I would have liked him to stay, but you have to understand that he wanted to play more and wanted to leave. In the end we couldn’t get another player.

“I believe a lot in Mayoral. He is young, has desire and is hungry. We have Karim, but he’s out.

“It’s true that Gareth Bale can play there, but he’s more of a winger. We’re going to deal with the players we have and we’re going to do well, I’m convinced.