In terms of transfers, Chelsea have brought in Michy Batshuayi, Marcos Alonso, David Luiz, N’Golo Kante and Eduardo – players who will form the spine of the team and provide adequate cover for first-team players.
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Blues boss Antonio Conte has been known to prefer a back 3 in his stints as Juventus and Italy manager, sparking speculation that the signing of Luiz might see a back 3 implemented at Chelsea.
Luiz left Chelsea for Paris St Germain in 2014, but re-signed with the London club on transfer deadline day after a trophy-filled spell with the French champions.
The 29 year-old’s arrival does give Conte another option if he wants to set Chelsea up in one of his preferred formations – 3-5-2 – now he has centre-backs Luiz, John Terry and Gary Cahill fit and available.
But I think that David Luiz is a good defender, a good centre-back.
“He has good technique, good personality like Leonardo Bonucci, and he likes to play football”. “He’s a positive guy”, Conte said. This is the most important thing for me, not only to win, lose or draw – to improve your players, to work on their weaknesses, and make the player stronger. This matches reports on deadline day, which claimed that the transfer was dead in the water until David Luiz himself told the PSG board that he wanted to leave.
FC’s Craig Burley reacts to Antonio Conte’s comment saying David Luiz can be one of the world’s best defenders.
“Through the work I think that now we are talking about three great defenders in the world”. But I also think the coach must improve these players.
“I have a great responsibility to improve him”, Conte said. “But I can say now that my relationship with everyone here was always wonderful, with everyone working here and with the players and I can feel the same respect and the same love now”. “I think, because of the characteristics of the players, you can play 3-4-3”.
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Swansea striker Fernando Llorente, meanwhile, believes they will be facing this season’s Premier League champions when Chelsea visit the Liberty Stadium.
