Luiz happy to stay at Chelsea

David Luiz has committed his future to Chelsea after declaring his “love” for new manager Maurizio Sarri’s football philosophy and “fun” coaching style.

Luiz fell out of favour with Antonio Conte and started only one Premier League game since October, despite playing almost every game in Chelsea’s 2016-17 title-winning team.

Conte dropped Luiz after the Brazilian was perceived to have questioned his tactics during a stormy players’ meeting but, having started both pre-season games under Sarri, the 31-year-old centrehalf now wants to stay.

“When I came back here from Paris it was to win the Premier League and to do something again with Chelsea,” he said. “I came back to stay here.”

Luiz says that his limited playing time last season had ensured that he is now fully rested and injuryfree for the new season.

“I had a lot of time to take care of myself, so now I’m 100 per cent,” he said. Of Sarri’s approach, Luiz added: “I love this philosophy. We play high, with a lot of possession of the ball in a technical way. He’s trying to help us every single day, double sessions, to learn quickly his philosophy. Play from the back, build from the back, try to help the guys, try to be in line. A new philosophy always takes time. We are trying to learn quickly.”

Sarri has switched Chelsea’s formation from Conte’s 3-4-3 wing-back system to 4-3-3, with £50million Jorginho anchoring the team in the playmaker role he performed for Napoli at the base of midfield.

Chelsea, who drew 1-1 with Inter Milan in Florence on Saturday, are understood to be pursuing deals for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Christian Pulisic and Juventus defender Daniele Rugani, while there is also interest in Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, despite Sarri saying Alvaro Morata is staying.

Against Inter, 17-year-olds Ethan Ampadu and Callum Hudson-odoi stood out, with Luiz saying that Ampadu was “already a man playing football”.