The switch has seen the Brazilian reunite with the squad he left for Paris Saint-Germain two years ago and head coach Conte confirmed on Friday that it was a late decision to bring in the defender.
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Hazard said: “Conte puts trust in his players and now we are good after an ugly season a year ago”.
“If you think that players improve only by looking at them, it’s impossible”.
Former Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins has big concerns over new signing David Luiz.
“David can improve in defensive situations, but I am very happy to have him here”. “He has good technique, good personality like Leonardo Bonucci, and he likes to play football”, he said. Every player until the end of their career can improve.
Chelsea’s Antonio Conte claims David Luiz is not too old to develop into one of the world’s best defenders.
Despite rating Luiz’s ability with the ball, Conte admitted he would need to improve his defensive play.
Luiz divided opinion when he played…
“When we take the decision about the players, we always take the decision together – me and the club”, Conte said. He is a good guy, a positive guy for the changing room, and I’m pleased with it. “But I think that, at this moment, we must be focused only on our own game”. Also, I find him competitive like Barzagli. It’s important. If it happens that, during a game, a player loses concentration, I don’t like this.
Conte refused to be drawn on whether he would line up with 3 central defenders, but did confirm that he did not envisage using David Luiz in midfield, “I believe that David Luiz is central defender, he played many games in that position. They need to work hard, adapt to our idea of football and show me they deserve to play.” .
“Now we have to work with these two new players”.
“We needed a centre-back”.
He added: “It’s important to remember when I started in Juventus with Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli, the defence of Juventus conceded a lot of goals”.
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This means that Conte is prepared to expend plenty of time and energy working with Luiz, knowing that words alone are not enough to get players to do what he wants.
