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David Luiz’s suspension good for Chelsea, Antonio Conte, Andreas Christensen

By Barrett Rouen

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur battles for possession with David Luiz of Chelsea and Andreas Christensen of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 20, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 20: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur battles for possession with David Luiz of Chelsea and Andreas Christensen of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 20, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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David Luiz’s red card at Arsenal may have been foolish but Chelsea can take many positives from it.

David Luiz earned the equivalent of three cards in a single match when Chelsea played Arsenal. Besides the rarity of this feat, it could be a good thing for Antonio Conte and Chelsea. If Chelsea can get the best out of Andreas Christensen during Luiz suspension, they will have a phenomenal back line ready for the present and future.

Antonio Conte, for all his wonderful attributes, has trouble trusting the kids. It’s not that he does not want to, he is just so competitive he regularly manages to talk himself out of taking risks. He is one of the most conservative football managers the game has seen in many years.

David Luiz earning an automatic three match suspension forces Conte’s hand. The only player in the side who can play as the central pivot of the defense is Andreas Christensen. Christensen has been phenomenal in the limited game time he has had so far this season.

He will play in serious matches, which will aid his development and help Chelsea as a team in the long term. Luiz’s absence gives Conte little choice but to play Christensen for more important matches than he would otherwise.

If Christensen is good enough it could eventually lead to Chelsea moving into the 3-5-2 with David Luiz in the midfield. Christensen, for what it’s worth, should be a starting defender for Chelsea.  If not in the middle, then perhaps far more often as a substitute for Gary Cahill than has been the case so far. The better option, though, would have Luiz move to Christensen’s left, as Christensen has a far higher pass completion rate than Luiz.

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Luiz will actually be able to benefit from the forced rest he is going to take. Christensen will learn a lot in that span.  It’s possible that everybody can win, including Antonio Conte, who will learn that he has a new soldier to rely on.

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