LUIZ’S BIG RISKS HAVE PAID OFF ALL IN THE RIGHT WAYS

DAVID Luiz has faced his fair share of criticism over the years. Gary Neville, during the Brazilian’s first stint at Chelsea, memorably compared his style of play to “a 10-year-old in the crowd on a PlayStation”. Many went further, such were the defender’s flamboyant but dangerously erratic qualities on the pitch.

Luiz’s return to Stamford Bridge last year, then, was met with derision and understandably so. Having been phased out of the club by Jose Mourinho in 2014 and then embarrassed by Germany in the World Cup semi-final that year, the defender’s arrival at Cobham late August left numerous observers perplexed.

But amid the ridicule and criticism, manager Antonio Conte stuck by the £34 million signing.

“David Luiz is 29 – a fantastic age for him to become one of the best defenders in the world,” he predicted.

Having overseen the transformations of Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci in Italy, here was a man who knew what he was talking about.

Ten months on, with a Premier League title to their name, a domestic double on the cards, and a bright future beckoning, Conte’s words have been vindicated.

Luiz’s metamorphosis has been remarkable, establishing him at the core of Chelsea’s 3-4-3 system. Calmer, more composed, more intelligent, the Brazilian has looked impervious at the back this season.

But as Luiz admits, the return to Chelsea was a “risk” but not one he took to prove his critics wrong. “I have to take a risk to feel something for myself not for others,” he said

“I was winning in Paris. I went to Paris for two years and won all the titles in France. I had a great life, I had a great credibility with the club, I have everything in Paris and then I took a risk to come back in the one country that was not that happy with me.

“They always criticise me a lot even with the Champions League, Europa League, play all the games and that’s it and that’s why it was a risk. And I love the risk.”

Risk-taking, it seems, is an attitude Luiz carries with him throughout life and, as he explains, drove him to return to the Bridge in August.

“If you don’t take risks in your life you never feel something new so I taste something new and I like that. I don’t like to stay always with the easy life so that’s why I took the risk and today I am very happy.

“If you don’t take a risk you’re not going to taste something new. Not just in your professional life, it’s every day. I’m very happy because I took the decision and it was the right decision.” – The Independent