Antonio Conte has admitted it was a “last-minute” call to re-sign David Luiz on deadline day, but believes he can become one of the best defenders in the world.
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Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is not concerned by the fortunes of his side’s title rivals, insisting Leicester City’s triumph last season shows it is too early to identify favourites.
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.
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.
“I think that every player, up until the end of their career, can improve”, he told a news conference ahead of Chelsea’s game against Swansea. I know David Luiz has played in midfield before but, in my mind now, that is not an idea for us.
“I saw all the players in good fitness – with the players who remained in Cobham we worked very hard”, Conte said. He pointed to the example of Leonardo Bonucci, who grew as a player under Conte’s coaching at Juventus.
“We needed to have a game plan, the tactics and way we want to play drilled into everyone and everybody buy into it”. But then I started to work with them.
“It’s important to remember when I started at Juventus, with Chiellini, Bonucci and Barzagli, the defence of Juventus had been conceding a lot of goals”, Conte said. Hopefully this season we will win trophies and get back to a winning mentality. I’m very happy that he’s here.
“He was an incredible player when I was playing against him”.
“I want him to play with the right passion and the right aggression”.
Luiz divided opinion when he played… “He’s a good guy and a positive guy in the dressing room”.
“Through the work I think that now we are talking about three great defenders in the world”.
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The players think the same as me – we would prefer to play the Champions League.
