Antonio Conte addressed the media ahead of Chelsea’s midweek clash against Bournemouth in the League Cup. Chelsea welcomes the Cherries to Stamford Bridge tomorrow night for an EFL Cup quarterfinal match. During his media session he was asked about defender David Luiz, who has seen himself frozen out this season amidst reports that he and Conte are in a row.
Luiz has lost his place in the team to Andreas Christensen, and hasn’t played in over a month. Conte claims that David Luiz has a knee injury, and that’s why he’s been out of action. While many possess some doubt about the injury claim, Luiz’s absence has nevertheless led to reports claiming the Brazilian could be on the move to London rivals Arsenal in the January transfer window.
“I don’t read and I solve the problem,” Conte responded when asked about the David Luiz transfer speculation.
“I don’t have some information about this topic. I repeat, I am a person who is very realistic. I like to tell the truth. I think that also I don’t want to annoy you with the same reply. I don’t listen to this. I don’t have anything about this.”
So the Italian basically evaded the question and gave a non-response.
For what it’s worth, Christensen has impressed in place of David Luiz, and Conte’s dropping the 2016 summer transfer deadline day re-acquisition has obviously sent a message to his team.
Conte later added: “I like to make the best decision from what I see during the training sessions and if you deserve to play, you play.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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