Alvaro Morata, the scorer with thwarted love with Spain

Alvaro Morata is used to carrying the weight of failures, mocked for his inglorious stints at Chelsea or Atlético de Madrid. After his missed game against Poland, he missed a penalty – without much consequence – against Slovakia. Among the torrent of criticism, the Spanish player even received death threats. But the round of 16 won Monday, June 28 by Spain against Croatia after a breathless meeting (5-3, after extra time) marked a turning point: Morata’s tumultuous relationship with Spanish aficionados has changed. in marriage of inclination.

First, because this victory bears the seal of number 7 de la Roja. With his goal scored with a superb volley, he delivered Spain mired in the twists and turns of a tense extension. But also, “Because the fury of the Spanish observers leads to sentences which change from day to day”, believes Alberto Toril, who coached Alvaro Morata between 2011 and 2013 at Real Madrid’s Castilla (Madrid club’s reserve team). He pursues : “There is no balance in the opinion process of people here. Alvaro has had two tough games and he’s just gone from fierce criticism to praise. I don’t think there are a thousand truths. But I’m sure he’s the striker Luis Enrique needs. “

The Spanish coach confirms: “I don’t think there is a single coach in the world who doesn’t admire, value and praise a player like Alvaro Morata. He defends as if he were a central defender, he dominates in the air, he scores goals, he is strong ”, Luis Enrique praised at a press conference after the match won against Croatia.

“The perfect benchmark in attack”

And the great coaches that Morata has worked with during his career – Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri or Diego Simeone – abound in this direction. Could he be a misunderstood player? Why the European elite – he wore the shirts of Real Madrid, Juventus, Chelsea and Atlético de Madrid – paid 190 million euros in transfers for this player?

Alberto Toril replies: “One of the problems with modern strikers is that they have to stick to the demands that two extraordinary footballers [Messi et Ronaldo] have imposed in the minds of football fans: to score 40 or 50 goals per season. Alvaro is a born goalscorer, who can score around 20 goals per season and he also has an obvious influence on the game. ” The former coach of the Real reserve develops: “Currently, Spain are playing with two wingers who do not stay fixed on the sides. So you also need a mobile and dynamic tip, able to take advantage of the spaces that his teammates create. This is exactly what Morata does. It might not be easy to see and analyze, but he is the perfect offensive benchmark for La Roja’s style of play. “

José Maria Amorrortu headed the Atlético de Madrid training center, where Morata began his journey. He grants “A lot of value” what the 28-year-old striker realizes on the pitch: “He assimilated the fact that you can play in front without being only at the conclusion of the actions. He prefers to be connected to his teammates, he has a good back to the goal. You don’t see this mobility in a lot of players. “

Confidence as a driving force

Forgotten the whistles from the Seville stadium during La Roja’s first two matches at the Euro and the chants against him at Wanda Metropolitano after the friendly against Portugal in early June. And for a man who walks with affect, the benefits are quickly obvious. “The motivation that drives me in football is the same as that which every individual needs in life, namely to feel wanted and loved”, declared the person concerned to Sky Italia, in 2020.

Morata has not always shown great confidence. In 2018, during his stormy stint at Chelsea, he said he suffered from “Something like depression”. Since then, he has often tackled the subject of mental health. In particular at a press conference, at the start of the Euro: “In sport, people don’t recognize the importance or severity of anxiety and depression. It is something that we do not name, which has no form, but which is there. I recommend that people go to a specialist if they have a problem. “

Alberto Toril supports this major aspect in the life of the player. He remembers a mature man, already among young people: “Alvaro is very aware of the importance of the psychological aspect. Mentally, he’s very solid. Even if recently the critics have crossed the line, affecting his family, he has been able to focus on his major role within this Roja. “

Alvaro Morata comes out of this spectacular round of 16 against Croatia stronger. “I thank the supporters for the support they show us every day. In the last few weeks, we have seen things that have not been pleasant for me, nor acceptable, but the majority of Spain supported me. You often have to go through difficult times and suffer to be able to make the most of the good times ”, he huffed after the game. The quarter-final against Switzerland on Friday July 2 in St. Petersburg will tell if the honeymoon continues with Spanish supporters.