Chelsea's David Luiz avoids surgery on damaged knee but welcomes 10-day rest period during international break

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Simon Johnson20 March 2017

David Luiz is still struggling with the knee injury he suffered in December but says he does not need surgery.

The Chelsea centre-half was hurt by a bad tackle from Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero three months ago.

Luiz has started the majority of games since then with strapping on his knee and has remained in discomfort.

While disappointed not to be in Brazil’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Paraguay, he says it could do him good to take things easier over the next 10 days.

He told Standard Sport: “The international break gives me a good chance to rest my knee. It’s a very good thing for me.

“Only I feel the pain so nobody knows [how hard it’s been to cope with]. But we have amazing medical staff and they have been great with me.

“Every single match, every single player they are there for every player. They have helped me a lot.

“I won’t need an operation in the summer. But it’s very good for me to rest, not just the knee, but the body as well.

“I am disappointed to not be in the Brazil squad, but I respect the decision. I’m playing regularly and trying to do my best to come back [into the squad]. Have I been told why I wasn’t picked? No.”

The 29-year-old put in another fine performance as the Premier League leaders beat Stoke 2-1 on Saturday.

Stoke tried to intimidate Chelsea with an aggressive style of play— Diego Costa was fouled a number of times — but Luiz did not have a problem with Stoke’s tactics.

He said: “It’s okay! This is football, you have contact. It’s part of the game. Everybody knows when you come to Stoke it’s always difficult.

“Physically they are very tough. Sometimes they decide to play this way because they’re strong.

“We just need to be intelligent [when this happens], to be clever, not to let this kind of game get in your mind. That’s what we did against Stoke and we played well.”Luiz left Chelsea for Paris St German in 2014, only to return to the club in a £34million deal last August.

He has never won the title and knows Chelsea have to stand firm if they are to lift the trophy.

They need a maximum of 21 points from their remaining 10 matches to be champions and Luiz insists no team will outfight them.

“We have to show every day in our lives that we are tough men as well as good footballers,” he said.

“You need to be a good human, with a good personality, to be honest. It’s not just inside the pitch, it’s about being this way every day. When you’re with people, you need to show your character.

“The Premier League hasn’t changed since I was here before. It’s always so difficult, especially at Stoke, but we did well.”

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