Chelsea FC vs AS Roma - Alvaro Morata expected to start as Chelsea host Roma

Posted Wednesday, October 18, 2017 by PA

Alvaro Morata is expected to start following a hamstring injury when Chelsea play Roma in Champions League Group C on Wednesday night.

Michy Batshuayi was ineffective in Saturday's defeat to Crystal Palace and is likely to make way for the Spain striker.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte said: "I could take a risk on Saturday to force (Morata) to play against Crystal Palace, but I'm not so stupid.

"Tomorrow I'm not taking a risk if I decide for Morata to play."

Midfielders N'Golo Kante (hamstring) and Danny Drinkwater (calf) are out and right wing-back Victor Moses limped off against Palace with a hamstring injury.

Conte, though, insists it is the fixture schedule, rather than his demands, which have resulted in the injuries. Although he conceded he would ideally rotate more often.

"The problem is we are playing always the same players," the Italian said.

"And also we have players in our team who are not used to playing three games in a week. Kante, it's the first time. For Moses, the first time.

"For Morata, it's the first time to play regularly for his team. For (Marcos) Alonso it's the same.

"When you have a lot of games, you need to rotate players. If this is not possible, I have to take risks.

"For example, against Manchester City: Morata was injured after 20 minutes. But if I hadn't put Morata in the starting XI, you'd have told me I'm crazy. Sometimes the players need to rest."

Conte admitted the Blues had tried to sign Roma's Belgium midfielder Radja Nainggolan in the past.

Conte added: "Yes, we tried to buy him. (But) it's not right to speak about him.

"For me, one of the best midfielders. But he's an opponent."