Antonio Conte's 3-4-3 formation gives David Luiz 'freedom' to spark clinical Chelsea counter-attacks - Ruud Gullit

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Tom Doyle9 December 2016

David Luiz is the player with the most freedom in Antonio Conte's Chelsea team and a huge reason for their Premier League winning streak, according to former Stamford Bridge manager Ruud Gullit.

Doubts were raised over Chelsea re-signing Luiz from Paris Saint-Germain this summer having sold the Brazilian to the French champions just two years previously, and September defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal heaped pressure upon Conte and his new defender.

The Italian coach decided to switch to a 3-4-3 formation to bolster his defence, and the tactical shift has reaped dividends with Chelsea winning eight league games in a row to sit top of the table.

Luiz has been in superb form alongside Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill in a back three, and Gullit feels Conte's formation is bringing out the best in the Brazil international.

Gullt wrote in his BBC column: "A lot of people questioned Chelsea's decision to re-sign Brazil defender David Luiz from PSG on transfer deadline day, but he is proving to be the perfect fit for their 3-4-3 system.

"I understand why there were doubts - while Blues manager Antonio Conte is known for his teams' defensive discipline, Luiz's problem is that sometimes he will switch off and he can be a little bit complacent.

"At 29, he has not changed and he is still that same player who can make mistakes, but the formation Conte has used during their eight-game winning run allows him to play to his strengths because of the players he has got around him.

"In front of him, Chelsea's defence is protected by N'Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic, but the key for Luiz is that when Chelsea play three at the back, he does not have to mark anybody.

"Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta do that, and do the dirty work for him. When Luiz plays in a four-man defence and he needs to mark, that can be a problem for him. In this 3-4-3 system, however, he is more of a sweeper and makes fewer challenges than Chelsea's other defenders.

"That suits him more, firstly because he rarely finds himself in trouble so is not in danger of making a mistake, and also because he is the player with the most freedom in that Chelsea team.

"Luiz can bring the ball out or play it forward and he uses it very well, which is so important when Chelsea look to break quickly.

"Playing him alongside Cahill and Azpilicueta means they have the ideal combination at the back."

Chelsea will seek to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the table with a home clash against West Brom on Sunday.

You can follow Sunday's match live with Standard Sport.
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