Antonio Conte says David Luiz could face a lengthy spell out of the Chelsea squad after dropping the defender for Sunday’s Premier League win over Manchester United.
Luiz was left out of the squad entirely, with Conte picking Andreas Christensen in his back three and naming only 17-year-old Ethan Ampadu as a defensive option on the bench.
The risk paid off as Chelsea won 1-0, and after the game Conte praised the players who came in while warning Luiz he has to work better as a team player if he is to get back in the starting 11.
Antonio Conte says David Luiz could face a lengthy spell out of the Chelsea squad
Luiz was dropped for Chelsea’s Premier League win over Manchester United on Sunday
The risk paid off as Chelsea won 1-0, and after the game Conte praised the players who came in
Speaking to Sky Sports, Conte said: ‘Christensen is 22 years old, he showed great personality, for sure he is the present and the future for Chelsea, the same for Ampadu.
‘David Luiz has to work with the others if he deserves to play, otherwise he will stay on the bench or in the stands.’
The decision caused great debate among ex-players, with Graeme Souness saying Conte had sent a major message to his players by dropping Luiz.
Luiz was left out of the squad, with Conte picking Andreas Christensen in his back three
Souness said: ‘It’s a hell of a call, if that had gone wrong for him today you can bet that would have been mentioned big time tomorrow. This guy has obviously done something that has upset the manager greatly.
‘When you are a manager in a big game you want all your best players available. It is a hell of a big call and he has got away with it. They have won today and that is a reminder to everyone in that dressing room who the boss is.’
Former England defender Jamie Carragher said he was happy Chelsea had won without Luiz, as he felt is struck a blow to player power in the Premier League champions’ dressing room.
Carragher said: ‘I’m delighted he got away with it, delighted that he has done it. It is too much now, a manager losing his job because he has lost the dressing room, because the players have got the power. Forget the players, you are the manager, you pick the team.’
Only 17-year-old Ethan Ampadu (right) was named as a defensive option on the Chelsea bench
Gary Neville meanwhile feels the call could still backfire on Conte if Chelsea’s defence proves leaky in their coming games.
Neville said: ‘It is a big call because if you take on these players in that dressing room, where David Luiz is a big influence, a big character, you can lose at this club.
‘This is not the end of this, this is the start. Antonio Conte has won today, but in two or three weeks time if David Luiz is still sat on that bench, every time they concede a goal, the cameras will flip to David Luiz.’