David Luiz is said to have angered Chelsea manager Antonio Conte. The player was not present for the London side’s game last weekend. Is an exit from Stamford Bridge imminent?
Chelsea defeated rivals Manchester United last weekend. But the 1-0 victory came without the contribution of dependable defender David Luiz. Furthermore, rumor soon had it that the Red Devils were on the line with Luiz’s agent. Chelsea fans were immediately reminded of Matic’s similar move this summer.
Could this be on the cards? It’s not unrealistic. Luiz has left before when he was not getting along with the managerial staff. What is said to have happened is that the player had a falling out with manager Antonio Conte. It’s bad news for all involved. Conte is also rumored to be on his way out, as a result of losing the support of some of his players in Chelsea’s dressing room.
What is Conte saying? Initially tight-lipped, the Italian confirmed that the player is expected to be part of the squad for this weekend’s fixture. Chelsea takes on West Brom on Saturday. In his own inimitable style, the manager confirmed the player’s return while choosing not to speak about the disagreement which lead to this decision.
“It was a technical decision and every single player has to react well and accept my decision. It’s normal,” Conte said at his pre-match press conference. I do not like to speak about a single player. I like to speak about the team and the next game. This is most important, ” Conte tells reporters.
Who could replace Luiz? Squad depth is proving a problem at Chelsea this season. Furthermore, Conte has been unhappy with the club’s transfer policy. It was a fortunate case, this time, of a younger player being able to take on the responsibility of replacing Luiz. Andreas Christensen stepped up to the occasion. Conte reminded the press of this and more importantly, reminded Luiz that he is not irreplaceable. “It is positive because last season, I didn’t have this opportunity to rotate. This season I have another opportunity because Christensen is showing he’s an important player for us. He is showing great maturity.”
Is Luiz on his way out? And if so, will a rival like Manchester United manage to convince the player to join? While we find an answer to these questions, FootballCoin contests are back on. And David Luiz’s card is as valuable as ever. Here’s your chance to show off.
