Chelsea outcast David Luiz may not play for Chelsea again this season, Blues head coach Antonio Conte admitted as he revealed the Brazilian defender is still struggling with a knee injury that has been bothering him all season.
“I don’t know if he (David Luiz) will play again this season. We will see. Now he is having training sessions and he is improving a lot,” Conte said on the eve of Chelsea’s clash with Swansea City.
It’s been a difficult season for the likeable defender for he reportedly had a falling out with Conte as Chelsea made a disastrous start to their title defence and a subsequent knee injury has kept him out of first-team action since then.
Luiz has started just nine Premier League and four UEFA Champions League games for the West Londoners this season.
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The 31-year-old last played in their shocking 4-1 loss at Premier League side Watford (February 20).
“He had this problem in his knee, but he is working very hard and I think he is aiming to come back before the end of the season,” the Italian coach added.
Conte has hinted at rotating his back-three as the Blues enter the home stretch, but it looks unlikely that Luiz will be able to lend a hand.
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Currently, Luiz is the sole defender who is injured.
Despite their travails this season, there is still plenty to play for as Conte’s side are within touching distance Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for the Champions League spots.
Liverpool, in third place, have 71 points from 35 games, while Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, both having played 34 games, are on 68 and 63, respectively.
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And the Blues have a FA Cup final date with rivals Manchester United at Wembley Stadium (May 19) to look forward to as well.
Their most immediate concern, however, is Saturday’s trip to the Liberty Stadium where they visit relegation-battlers Swansea.
Match kicks off at 17.30 GMT/2200 IST.