4 Areas for Alvaro Morata to Improve on with Juventus Next Season

Following his €20 million move from Real Madrid last summer, Alvaro Morata undoubtedly enjoyed a fine debut season in Italy. After some initial struggles, the Juventus striker eventually earned a place in the starting XI under Massimiliano Allegri, helping the Bianconeri to their remarkable success throughout 2014/15.

Winner’s medals in both Serie A and the Coppa Italia were followed by a runners-up berth in the Champions League, a fine return for the 22-year-old, who is now set to be a key figure after some significant changes to the Juventus squad. There had been talk that he too might move on, per Calciomercato (h/t the Express). However, the player himself told reporters earlier this month that was enjoying life on the peninsula, per Football Italia:

"

I am glad that I changed club, as I wouldn’t be here otherwise. I owe a debt to Juventus. They took a gamble and believed in me. They gave me so much and I want to repay them.

I’m happy at Juve and see no reason to leave. Of course it’s a very different way of playing football compared to Spain, but I’m learning.

"

Morata scored some hugely important goals for the Turin giants, including five in European competition that were central in their run to the final in Berlin, where he notched in their 3-1 defeat to Barcelona.

Yet there remains room for the Spanish star to improve, and over the following pages is a look at four areas where Morata can improve his impact. They may be minor flaws, but eradicating them will benefit the player, Juventus and his national team in the future.

Defensive Work Rate

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With the departure of Carlos Tevez, Juventus have lost not just their leading scorer but also the man who set the tone for their defensive effort. The Argentinian’s impact as an attacking threat cannot be understated, but neither can the pressure he placed on opponents whenever Juventus lost the ball.

The sight of the former Manchester United star chasing defenders in an attempt to recover possession was clearly the example Morata—as well as the likes of Paul Pogba and Roberto Pereyra—followed, and the Bianconeri will need to quickly replace that influence.

By following the way Tevez set the tone for Juve, Morata can not only ensure the team does not lose its edge, but he can also ensure he sets himself apart from the other strikers who have arrived in Turin this summer.

Aerial Prowess

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Despite standing 6’2” tall, Morata could improve his heading ability, as he often struggles to win the aerial battles he contests. According to statistics from WhoScored.com, the 22-year-old won just 0.8 such challenges per game, a mark below 13 different members of the current Juventus squad.

Furthermore, as figures from Squawka.com show, Morata lost 29 of the 49 headed duels he contested during 2014/15, equating to just a 43 percent win rate.

Temperament Under Pressure

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While the goals Morata scored against teams such as Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Barcelona were invaluable, there were also occasions where the striker’s composure deserted him just when Juventus needed cooler heads.

His red cards against AS Roma and Fiorentina could have proven far more costly than they did, and he must strive to improve in his mental approach to such fixtures moving forward.

Passing

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According to WhoScored.com, Morata completed an average of just 13 passes per game, connecting with a lowly 75 percent of those efforts in Serie A, and falling to 71.1 percent in the Champions League.

He still managed to notch five assists in 2014/15, but both he and Juventus could benefit greatly from an improvement in this area. The same source shows that no fewer than 25 of his team-mates bettered that mark, and it would not take much for Morata to get better in this area of play.