Champions league conte optimistic david luizs inclusion despite injury #
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Conte Optimistic About David Luiz's Inclusion Despite Injury
Antonio Conte has expressed his optimism about including David Luiz in Chelsea's Champions League squad, despite the defender's recent injury setback.
Luiz has been sidelined with a knee injury since the start of the month, but Conte has revealed that the Brazilian is making good progress in his recovery and could be back in contention for the Blues' Champions League campaign.
"David Luiz is working very hard to recover from his injury," Conte said in a press conference. "I'm optimistic that he will be available for the Champions League. He's a very important player for us and we need him."
Conte's comments will come as a boost to Luiz, who has been a key player for Chelsea this season. The 31-year-old has made 14 appearances for the Blues in all competitions, scoring one goal and providing two assists.
Chelsea's Champions League campaign gets underway on September 18, when they face Qarabag in Azerbaijan. The Blues will be looking to make a strong start to the competition, and Conte will be hoping that Luiz will be fit and ready to play a key role in their bid for European glory.
In the meantime, Conte has other options available to him in defense, with Gary Cahill, Andreas Christensen, and Antonio Rudiger all vying for a starting spot. However, the Italian coach has made it clear that Luiz is an important player for him, and he will be eager to get him back in the fold as soon as possible.
"David Luiz is a very important player for us, not just because of his quality, but also because of his experience," Conte said. "He's a player who can play in different positions, and he's very important for us."
With Luiz's injury setback, Conte has been forced to shuffle his pack in defense, but the Italian coach is confident that his team has the depth and quality to cope with the loss of their star defender.
"We have a good squad, and we have players who can play in different positions," Conte said. "We have to be ready to adapt and to play with different players. We have to be ready to play with different formations and different systems."
Chelsea's Champions League campaign is set to be a tough one, with the Blues facing stiff competition from the likes of Atletico Madrid, Roma, and Qarabag. However, with Luiz set to return to the fold, Conte will be hoping that his team can make a strong start to the competition and push for a deep run in the tournament.