Chelsea’s Antonio Conte right to drop David Luiz – Ray Wilkins


Former Chelsea player Ray Wilkins has backed Antonio Conte’s decision to drop David Luiz for the crucial Premier League game against Manchester United on Sunday.

The Brazil international was left out of the matchday squad for the 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge, with Alvaro Morata heading in the winner after 55 minutes.



Luiz’s replacement, Denmark international Andreas Christensen, impressed in the centre of defence, with Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku struggling to get the better of him.

Wilkins, who also represented Manchester United during his playing career, believes Luiz would be better employed as a midfielder but feels he is too much of a liability at the back.

“He’s not been playing well,” Wilkins told Premier League Daily. “He’s lackadaisical as a defender but I think he is a very good midfield player and I have said this on numerous occasions.

“Christensen came in yesterday and played very, very well indeed in a massive game.

“How many times do you see Christensen in advance of the ball? You don’t, because he thinks defensively.

“With Luiz you see him in advance of the ball on numerous occasions during every game he plays and consequently, Chelsea suffer defensively.

“I thought the decision to drop Luiz was the right decision. I saw him play against Roma [a 3-0 Champions League defeat] the other night and he didn’t look anywhere near it. That was a poor performance.

“Yesterday was one of effervescence, they had life, and I thought Chelsea deserved to win.”


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