APATOSHE CHLSEA BEYEN

Gomez? I've faced him on PlayStation! Smiling Luiz can have last laugh over that Neville jibe

Mario Gomez in the past, David Luiz laughed and said: ‘Just on PlayStation’. It was a new angle on the usual joke.

Luiz has worked hard to restore his reputation since Gary Neville’s acidic criticism during a game against Liverpool in November, which hit a nerve at Stamford Bridge.

Neville claimed the Brazil centre half’s defensive play was so haphazard it seemed as if he were being controlled by a 10-year-old in the crowd, on his PlayStation.

In control: David Luiz tussles with Didier Drogba in training ahead of Saturday's showpiece

This week, when Luiz declared himself fit to play in Saturday’s Champions League final, there was genuine delight inside the Chelsea camp and palpable relief among those who wish the London club well against Bayern Munich.

Few fancied their chances of shackling the prolific attacking triumvirate of Gomez, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery without specialist central defenders.

John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic are among four key Chelsea players missing through suspension but, like Luiz, Gary Cahill is back from injury in the nick of time.

Hair flick: Luiz heads clear in training and appeared relaxed about his fitness

‘I took treatment every day, in the morning, afternoon and evening,’ said 25-year-old Luiz. ‘Now I’m so happy. I can do all the movements. I am 100 per cent for training.

‘When I was a kid in Brazil it was my dream and now I get my chance to play in the Champions League final. Everyone will stop to watch the game.’ 

It has been a turbulent first 16 months in London for Luiz. His Chelsea career started so well after a £21million move from Benfica and he scored important goals against Manchester City and Manchester United.

Then, in May, last year, his progress crashed at Old Trafford, as Carlo Ancelotti lost his rag on the touchline with a public display of anger over the first-half  mistakes which proved costly in a title decider with United.

Dangerman: Mario Gomez has scored 12 goals in the Champions League

Chelsea lost the game 2-1, all but handing United the title. Luiz was hooked at half-time and would not be trusted again in the Barclays Premier League for five months.

Andre Villas-Boas, it seemed, shared Ancelotti’s reservations about the defender, although he did fight back on his behalf when Neville made the PlayStation jibe, branding it ‘ridiculous’.

Luiz, despite all this, retained his cult status among supporters, helped by the fact that he marked his first appearance of the season with a goal against Bayer Leverkusen.

‘They love my hair, they don’t love me,’ he said this week, but they also took quickly to his free spirit, his desire to excite and his willingness to connect openly with them, be that in the street, beside the pitch or through the media.

Fitness battle: Both Luiz and Gary Cahill are set to start at the Allianz Arena

‘In Portugal, I had a special relationship with the Benfica fans because I try,’ said Luiz. 

‘I try and show them my football, not just for me, not just for my family but for the fans. The fans deserve that players always come and say hi and hello. This is so important for people that David Luiz comes here and says hello because one day they will support other players.’ 

His flair and his hair have been harnessed with a little more defensive discipline, since Roberto Di Matteo replaced Villas-Boas and reverted to Chelsea’s trusted methods of defending deep and counter-attacking quickly. Luiz has prospered again. 

 

The Champions League final will be his 40th game this season and he expects another thorough examination of his defensive qualities by the Germans.

‘It is the best game in the world and played in Munich,’ said Luiz. ‘Bayern are at home and that makes it more difficult.’ 

Difficult indeed, but if Luiz is back and in control of the PlayStation, then Chelsea have a greater chance of success.