EPL: I Almost Suffered From Depression – Former Chelsea Striker Opens Up On Life At Stamford Bridge

Alvaro Morata has opened up on his difficult spell at Chelsea, revealing he almost succumbed to depression during his time at Stamford Bridge.

The Spanish striker endured a notoriously tricky time in the Premier League club, failing to live up to the billing of his £70.6m fee after joining from Real Madrid in 2017.

He managed just 24 goals in 72 appearances across all competitions for the Blues, and was subsequently loaned back to LaLiga, joining Atletico on a temporary basis before it was made permanent in 2020.

Having had the chance to look back retrospectively on his time in London, Morata has revealed all was not well while playing in England.

‘I’ve never had depression and I hope I never do, but I came close,’ he told El Mundo.

‘I don’t believe it is given the importance that it should.

‘When your head doesn’t work well, you are your worst enemy. During those times, it doesn’t matter what you do, you are always fighting against yourself. Depression is an illness just like breaking your ankle.’

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Revealing he was seeing a psychologist during his second season at the Bridge, Morata – who has enjoyed a revival back in Italy with Juventus this season – opened up on the help the session provided him with.

And he admitted his belief that mental coaching is something that should be a permanent fixture within clubs across the globe

‘Just as we train in the gym or on the pitch to improve our technique and our tactical abilities, I believe the mind is something you also have to train,’ the 28-year-old said. ‘You have to be ready and that [seeing a psychologist] helps you a lot.

‘Even for my generation, in recent years, it wasn’t seen as something normal to see a psychologist – but inevitably, it has to be something normal. Today it is more common and there will be a day when it will be compulsory. There are people that go through difficult times.

‘Had I had a professional, close to me during my [first season] at Chelsea, I think it would have gone better for me.’