Chelsea manager explains Alvaro Morata's absence for City game

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has clarified that the decision to leave Alvaro Morata out of the matchday squad against Manchester City was a 'tactical' measure.

The Spain international has blown hot and cold with his performances through the ongoing campaign and Saturday's game saw him excluded from the 18 altogether.

In a report covered by BT Sport, Sarri revealed that the decision was made to play Eden Hazard in the false 9 position and that reduced the need for another marksman other than Olivier Giroud on the bench.

"It’s tactical because with the side to start with Eden in another position so I think it’s useless to have two strikers on the bench," he is quoted as saying by the source.

The Blues started the game on the backfoot with the Citizens piling on the pressure but they managed to make the defining impact before the break after N'Golo Kante scored with the club's first shot on target.

Thereafter, Sarri's side were much more involved in terms of the proceedings and David Luiz summed up a 2-0 win with a sublime header from a corner 12 minutes from time.