Chelsea coach Antonio Conte insists he has confidence in David Luiz after confirming the defender will start against Liverpool on Friday night.
The Brazilian make his first Chelsea appearance since returning to the club, with captain John Terry sidelined due to an ankle injury.
Luiz, made a shock return to Stamford Bridge from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day, is set to partner Gary Cahill at the heart of the Chelsea defence.
“Tomorrow David Luiz will play for the first time with us, and we are confident about this,” Conte said.
“We expect him to play very well, with great attention. We know David is a great player. We are working to put him in the best condition to give us the best of him.”
Conte confirmed Terry would be available 10 days after his ankle ligament injury was initially diagnosed on Tuesday, after getting injured in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Swansea City, and faces a fight to return in time for the club’s trip to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal on Sept. 24.
“John strained the ligaments in his ankle,” Conte said. “The doctor told me that after 10 days, he can come back. But the player is working, working very hard. Today he had a training session to recover.”
Conte is confident that the Brazilian centre-back is ready for the challenge of facing Liverpool a side that has impressed so far in the league.
“I said this because it was the truth,” Conte said. “When new players arrive, it’s normal that they need time to adapt to our concept and idea of football. But tomorrow we need him, we need David Luiz to play.
“He’s worked a lot the last few days on defensive situations with the ball, when we are in possession. So I’m confident in him. Alonso, also, is a good player and I’m pleased. During the training sessions I saw good things.”
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Friday’s match Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was full of praise when asked about Conte, describing the Chelsea head coach as “the Pep Guardiola of Juventus” in honour of his achievements in Turin.
Quizzed about Klopp’s comments, Conte replied: “I have great difficulty describing other people… but Jurgen Klopp is a great manager, one of the best in the world, and is showing great capacity at Liverpool to be a great manager.
“I know him, but not too much. We played against each other only once, in preseason. But he’s a fantastic manager. I’m very glad to see him tomorrow.”
Chelsea, unbeaten in the league, take on a Liverpool side brimming with confidence after thumping champions Leicester last weekend.
“I’m expecting a very tough match against a strong team,” added Conte.
“I think Liverpool is a really good team, they play with identity, they can bring many players on in an offensive situation and we must pay great attention tomorrow.”
The manager was quick to squash suggestions midfielder Cesc Fabregas could be sold in the next transfer window.
“Cesc is in my plans and in Chelsea’s plans,” he said.
“We all know Cesc is a fantastic player. I see him in every training session with great seriousness and if he continues in this way it will be very difficult choice for me.
“I want this from my players, to put doubts in my mind. Cesc is a great player, we all know he’s a very technical player, but also I’m starting to know him like a man.”
“Tomorrow David Luiz will play for the first time with us, and we are confident about this,” Conte said. “We expect him to play very well, with great attention. We know David is a great player. We are working to put him in the best condition to give us the best of him.”
Conte confirmed Terry would be available 10 days after his ankle ligament injury was initially diagnosed on Tuesday, after getting injured in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Swansea City, and faces a fight to return in time for the club’s trip to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal on Sept. 24.
“John strained the ligaments in his ankle,” Conte said. “The doctor told me that after 10 days, he can come back. But the player is working, working very hard. Today he had a training session to recover.”
Conte is confident that the Brazilian centre-back is ready for the challenge of facing Liverpool a side that has impressed so far in the league.
“I said this because it was the truth,” Conte said. “When new players arrive, it’s normal that they need time to adapt to our concept and idea of football. But tomorrow we need him, we need David Luiz to play.
“He’s worked a lot the last few days on defensive situations with the ball, when we are in possession. So I’m confident in him. Alonso, also, is a good player and I’m pleased. During the training sessions I saw good things.”
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Friday’s match Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was full of praise when asked about Conte, describing the Chelsea head coach as “the Pep Guardiola of Juventus” in honour of his achievements in Turin.
Quizzed about Klopp’s comments, Conte replied: “I have great difficulty describing other people… but Jurgen Klopp is a great manager, one of the best in the world, and is showing great capacity at Liverpool to be a great manager.
“I know him, but not too much. We played against each other only once, in preseason. But he’s a fantastic manager. I’m very glad to see him tomorrow.”
Chelsea, unbeaten the league , take on a Liverpool side brimming with confidence after thumping champions Leicester last weekend.
“I’m expecting a very tough match against a strong team,” added Conte.
“I think Liverpool is a really good team, they play with identity, they can bring many players on in an offensive situation and we must pay great attention tomorrow.”
The manager was quick to squash suggestions midfielder Cesc Fabregas could be sold in the next transfer window.
“Cesc is in my plans and in Chelsea’s plans,” he said.
“We all know Cesc is a fantastic player. I see him in every training session with great seriousness and if he continues in this way it will be very difficult choice for me.
“I want this from my players, to put doubts in my mind. Cesc is a great player, we all know he’s a very technical player, but also I’m starting to know him like a man.”
