The alarm bells started ringing before the first ball of the Premier League season had been kicked and Alvaro Morata claimed in the Spanish press “they’re already killing me.”

Morata had missed a penalty in Chelsea’s Community Shield shootout defeat to Arsenal and did not like the gentle pre-season analysis that followed. That marked Chelsea’s £57million record signing out as potentially being a bit flaky for the rough and tumble of English football and fears from outside the club that Morata is weak, both mentally and physically, are growing by the week.

The defeat to Manchester United was the 10th successive match Morata has played and failed to score in this year. The fact Romelu Lukaku had one of his best games and netted for the hosts, and Diego Costa was on target for Atletico Madrid on the same day only made it worse.

Chelsea insist Morata is happy and settling well in England, but there is also word from around the dressing-room that the Spaniard likes a good whinge. Whether it is the English referees, opposition defenders or his aches and pains, Morata is described as being a man who too often gives the impression his glass is half empty and that has certainly manifested itself in his performances.