Jamie Redknapp has credited Antonio Conte for transforming David Luiz into a ‘serious’ defender in less than two months at Chelsea.
The Brazilian returned to Stamford Bridge on deadline day in August after Chelsea agreed a £30million deal with Paris Saint-Germain.
The 29-year-old’s ability on the ball has never been in doubt but Luiz has come in for fierce criticism in the past for his lack of focus.
However, Chelsea didn’t concede a single goal in the league in October after reverting to a 3-4-3 system and Redknapp has praised Conte for transforming Luiz into a ‘serious defender’.
A 3-0 loss to Arsenal prompted manager Antonio Conte to rethink his tactics, and Chelsea now sit fourth in the table having picked up four wins and four clean sheets in the Premier League since opting for three centre-backs.
Luiz has played in the middle of Chelsea’s defensive trio during this run, most recently their 2-0 win at Southampton on Sunday, and Jamie Redknapp admitted the Brazilian has transformed under Conte.
“There is a hunger about this Chelsea team,” said Redknapp. “The manager has brought that in and the players are buying into it.
“Every single player on that pitch is working hard and there’s a desire about them again. Conte has got them so well drilled. Everybody knows their job when they have the ball and it suits them defensively as well.
“Luiz looks – I’m scared to say it – like a serious defender. You’ve got him buying into it as well, and that was a problem for Chelsea for many years. But when he’s like that, he looks the real deal.”
Questions were asked as to where Luiz would fit in following his Deadline Day move from Paris Saint-Germain, with even Conte admitting that he was a “surprise” purchase.
However, Luiz has started the last eight games for Chelsea in all competitions, benefiting from John Terry’s ankle injury which he sustained against Swansea in early September.
During the match against Southampton, Sky Sports’ Gary Neville said Conte is finally getting the best out of Luiz by playing him in a back three.
Neville added that the change in Chelsea’s overall mentality is noticeable, highlighting Luiz’s diversion from playing it out from the back.
“This Chelsea team have not made a mistake today, they’ve not put a foot wrong,” said Neville. “The concentration and focus is there but the clean sheet mentality is the big thing for me, and it’s there right through the team these past few weeks.
“Even Luiz is kicking it into the stand when two years ago he might have done a Cruyff turn and tried to beat the attacker.”
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