• Premier League

I have nothing to prove - Luiz

ESPN staff
September 27, 2013
David Luiz believes it is Jose Mourinho's choice to select him © PA Photos
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Chelsea defender David Luiz has insisted he has "nothing to prove", as he struggles to convince Jose Mourinho that he is worthy of a regular place in his starting line-up.

Luiz was part of the Blues defence that kept a clean sheet in Tuesday night's Capital One Cup 2-0 win at Swindon.

However, he may be forced to resume his role as a fringe player for the Premier League game at Tottenham on Saturday.

"I don't need to prove anything," the defender told the Evening Standard. "Everyone knows who David Luiz is - I want to play football and enjoy myself on the pitch - so when I have an opportunity to play, I want to enjoy just that.

"I am just one player in the team. Sometimes the manager can put me in, sometimes not. It's his choice. This is a big club and we have many, many good players. If Chelsea just had 11 players we would win nothing.

"Mourinho chooses his 11 players to play, his philosophy and tries to do the best job for Chelsea. That for me is normal. We just have to show we want to play. Everyone had an opportunity to play against Swindon and show our football."

While Luiz is unsure as to whether he has a chance of starting at White Hart Lane on Saturday, he feels the pre-match hype surrounding Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas' first touchline meeting with his former boss Mourinho should not detract from the significance of the fixture.

"It is Tottenham v Chelsea, not Mourinho v Villas-Boas," he said. "It will be a fantastic derby. Everyone will want to watch this game, everyone will want to play in this game. It will be fantastic.

"They have a great team, it is always so difficult to play against them and this season is the same. We need to play to win because we want to be top of the table."

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