Never have we seen a player head a football with such anger as David Luiz when he set up Chelsea’s equaliser against Manchester United. It was as if the Brazilian had been fired out of a cannon.
This is a player who was allowed to leave Stamford Bridge by Jose Mourinho. By flinging himself at Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross in the dying seconds, Luiz seemed determined not to be beaten by his former manager — and it was from the rebound that his side scored.
Luiz holds the key to Chelsea being successful this season. He has already improved a great deal but there is still work to do.
He was at fault for the goal which put United 2-1 ahead when he flew out of the defensive line to challenge Juan Mata. When you come out of the line, you have to win the ball. If you miss it, you are out of the game. Luiz got his angle of approach all wrong and overcommitted. He has to know when to come across into the channels and when it is better to stay put.
But Luiz brings so much to this team with his creativity and willingness to put his head on the line.
Marcos Alonso did not show the same determination in the build-up to United’s first goal. He stayed on the floor trying to win a free-kick rather than get on his feet and clear the ball.
When I was playing, there was no way a defender would show the opposition you were hurt. You would have had to take me off on a stretcher if I’d been down that long.
Look at the way United celebrated that goal. It gave them the belief they could go on and win the game.
Such are the fine margins in the Premier League this season that this one moment could prove costly for Chelsea.
