LUIZ END

Morata gets better of Mourinho as Conte freezes out defender & warns other stars it could happen to them

ANTONIO CONTE bombed out David Luiz and then warned the rest of the squad: the same could happen to you.

A few weeks after hailing Luiz as his best defender, Blues boss Conte axed him for Chelsea’s biggest game of the season against Manchester United, and then cast doubt on the player’s future.

Luiz (below) sat in the crowd, the price for questioning Conte’s tactics in a team meeting.

While the Italian gaffer put his players through their final paces

on Saturday, Luiz, 30, was made to watch from the sidelines and act as a ball boy. Luiz had previously been warned by Conte about his reaction to being hooked in the 3-3 draw against Roma. And youngster Andreas Christensen shone in the Brazilian’s place, as the Blues triumphed 1-0. It was only his fourth league start for the champions. Conte said of Luiz: “It’s only a tactical decision. He has to work really hard, otherwise they are on the bench or in the stand. It’s normal. This can happen to every one of my players, if I see that they are not in good form.

“I have to put my face in every situation, and then to sometimes make important decisions.

“Today, I did this, and I think Christensen played a massive game. I was very happy for this.

“I must take the best decision for the club, not for a single player.”

Having said he “didn’t know” whether Luiz had a future at Chelsea, Conte was reminded of his recent praise for the defender, to which the Blues boss replied dismissively: “It can change. It can change.”