Morata: Chelsea pals begged me not to copy Falcao...

Alvaro Morata has revealed Chelsea teammates urged him not to take the No9 shirt this season.

The No.9's to come before him including Mateja Kezman, Khalid Boulahrouz, Steve Sidwell, Franco Di Santo, Fernando Torres failed to live up to the leading man role.

The number remained vacant after Radamel Falcao found the back of the net just once in 10 Premier League appearances during his time on loan from Monaco during the 2015-16 season.

But that didn't faze Morata who said: “That was one of the first things I was told after turning up here.

"Even the lads were begging me not to take that shirt because it was cursed, but I wanted it."

Morata added: “I've done a couple of little things to avoid the bad luck that the shirt supposedly brings.

"Can I tell you what I've done? No chance. If I did that, the curse will come back!"