David Luiz is ready to play wherever he is asked in Antonio Conte's new-look Chelsea team following his £34million deadline day move back to Stamford Bridge from Paris St Germain.
The Brazilian, 29, has been training at Cobham this week as he settles into London life again after his unexpected return from France in a deal completed in the final hours of the window on August 31.
Luiz has traditionally been deployed as a centre half, and that would seem to be his favourite position despite question marks over his defensive qualities; namely the poor timing of his tackling.
There's no question mark against his ability on the ball, subtlety of touch and pin-point delivery. He reads the game well too, but there's more to being a centre half than that and Luiz is a liability at times.
Whatever your view, he does however provide a certain amount of versatility for Conte, who also signed left back Marcus Alonso from Fiorentina, and it has been suggested that he could play in front of a defence which will be marshalled by Gary Cahill, primarily.
Basically David, the message is - let the defenders defend and you do what you do best; cruise around, control the game and ping your passes left and right. Leave the tackling to the experts.
Luiz, who left Chelsea in the summer of 2014, has no issues with whatever position he is required to fill for the team. "I started playing three at the back with Vitoria in Brazil, but it doesn't matter where, I want to help and when I am in the team I am there to try to help," Luiz said on the club's official website, www.chelseafc.com.
"The coach is an amazing coach, he understands a lot of tactical things and I know he chooses every match the best line up, so if he needs to play three, four or two, it doesn't matter, I am there if he wants me to play. In different positions I am available."
Conte is confident the new signings can play an important part in the campaign ahead. "They can improve our squad and now it is right to work with David Luiz and Marcus Alonso to put them in our idea of football," the former Italy national team coach said on Chelsea TV. Now we have to work on the defensive situation, on the defensive line.
"We have to work to improve our physical condition, our tactical condition and to try to continue our good season."
During his last spell at Chelsea, Luiz, signed from Benfica, was part of the side which won the Champions League and FA Cup in 2012, then the Europa League in the following season. However, the Premier League title remains missing from his English honours list.
Luiz added: "It is time to do it, and I hope it will be this year. I am working hard for that and this is our goal this season. We don't have the Champions League to fight for so for sure we will try to win the Premier League and both cups."
Source: PA-WIRE
