David
Luiz insists he has learned a lot about himself as a player and a person
after a difficult 2017/18 season at Chelsea under Antonio Conte.
After playing a pivotal role in Conte's side as Chelsea win on the title in
2016/17, the Brazilian defender made just 10 Premier League starts last
term, with his time at the club seemingly coming to an end.
But Luiz is back in the side under new manager Maurizio Sarri and, in an
exclusive interview with Sky Sports, says he has taken the positives out of
a difficult situation.
Ahead of Chelsea's clash with Newcastle on Super Sunday, Luiz told
Sky
Sports: "I think I always have to feel fresh start because I am getting
old! It is amazing to play football, of course last season was not the best
for me inside the pitch, but also I learned a lot outside the pitch as a
person, as a man. It is always great to be on the pitch.
"I learned a lot, sometimes you have to be patient, sometimes you have to
take care of your body, sometimes you have to learn from outside to be good
in the future. So for me it was great.
"I got time to take care of my body; many times I was on the pitch in pain,
and I never refused to play one game. It was good to rest and be fresh.
"If the manager had stayed the same, of course, everybody knows maybe I had
to move clubs. Now I am here and so happy."
Chelsea struggled in the Premier League last season, finishing fifth and
outside of the Champions League spots, but Luiz says the winning attitude at
the club has not decreased.
Luiz also gave an insight into Sarri's philosophy at Stamford Bridge, and
says the Italian has already taught the 31-year-old some new tricks.
"The ambition has to be to win every single match, every single competition,
this is Chelsea we can't think in a different way but we also have to have
humility to understand we're at the beginning of a new philosophy, so we
start day-by-day every single week.
"I think every coach comes with new stuff and can improve and help us and of
course Sarri are already taught me many things I never saw before. It's
great to understand football - it never stops - since I started playing
football I always learn from every coach, it's great.
"He just gives to you [the public] five per cent of the idea, he's not going
to give you 100 per cent of the idea, one of the parts of the idea is to
focus on the ball and different parts of the pitch, you have to understand
the movement.
"I think we are in the beginning, we already head everything but you have to
learn in your head and pass this to your body and synchronise. With
everybody it takes time but we've already played two games and got six
points."
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