The Big Five: Key players in Chelsea’s Premier League title-winning campaign
Antonio Conte managed to bring out the best in some of his underperforming stars
DAVID LUIZ
The news that Chelsea had agreed to pay £30 million (HK$300 million) to re-sign David Luiz from Paris Saint-Germain, who had paid £50 million to sign him in June 2014, was met with mockery by English fans.
In his previous stint at Chelsea, Luiz’s penchant for hazardous sorties from centreback had seen him branded a liability and there was puzzlement when he was brought back to Stamford Bridge.
But the Brazil international has proved to be an extremely shrewd acquisition by Antonio Conte, slotting neatly into the centre of Chelsea’s back three and spreading reassurance with his aggressiveness in the duel and calmness on the ball.
“His decision-making has been far better in terms of not being as rash,” said former Manchester United defender Gary Neville. “I have to say he looks more mature. He’s not getting distracted by the sideshow stuff on the pitch like he did before.”
VICTOR MOSES
Moses barely made a mark during his first four years as a Chelsea player after being signed from Wigan Athletic in 2012 and was successively loaned out to Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham United.