Chelsea don't need Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois to challenge Manchester City, insists David Luiz

Wanted: Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois
AFP/Getty Images
Simon Johnson6 August 2018

David Luiz hopes Chelsea can persuade star duo Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois to stay at Stamford Bridge this week, but insists the club can challenge defending champions Manchester City without them.

Chelsea sorely missed the influential duo as City, who finished 30 points ahead of the Blues when they won the League last season, beat them 2-0 in the Community Shield yesterday.

Both players were given extended time off after the World Cup but were due to return to training today.

New coach Maurizio Sarri will meet the Belgium pair for talks over their future amid strong interest from Real Madrid, but Luiz is convinced Chelsea will still be title contenders even if the Italian fails to persuade them to stay.

“I want them to stay because they are top players, at the top level, with a lot of confidence,” said the Brazilian. “But I think Chelsea have a fantastic squad, with fantastic players. If they decide to leave we will continue with a fantastic team and fantastic players.”

Goalkeeper Courtois has already agreed personal terms with Real and his agent has appealed to Chelsea to let him go so that he can be closer to his two children, who live in the Spanish capital. A deal for Hazard is less certain, with Real so far refusing to meet Chelsea’s £200million valuation.

“Chelsea want the best players to stay,” added Luiz. “[Courtois and Hazard] know Chelsea a lot, they know what they’ve had here, the fun they’ve had. Everybody loves them and I hope they can stay.”

In Pictures | Chelsea vs Man City | Community Shield | 05/08/2018

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Despite Courtois’s desire to join Real and Hazard admitting three weeks ago that he was considering ending his six-year spell at Chelsea, left-back Marcos Alonso claims the duo have assured him that they are not going anywhere.

“I am sure they want to stay with us,” said the Spain international. “I have been in touch with them and I think they are fully committed to Chelsea, unless the club want to sell them.

“But I don’t think this is the case. They will stay and will have a great season with us.”

While doubts remain over Hazard and Courtois, Willian has categorically denied he will be leaving. Barcelona made bids to sign the Brazilian last month, only to buy Malcolm instead, but Manchester United continue to be interested. However, Willian said: “I told [Sarri] last week I’m really happy playing for Chelsea. I never talk about leaving. This is a new era with the new boss and our first conversations have gone really well and I hope to have a lot of victories for us.”

The ease in which City won yesterday provided strong evidence that Chelsea will need time to adapt to Sarri’s methods — he has introduced a 4-3-3 formation instead of a 3-4-3 — but Luiz said: “We have started a new philosophy, a new method, with a new coach.

“It was a difficult game against one of the best teams in the world. I hope we can understand [Sarri’s methods] quickly and fight for all the titles.”

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