David Luiz is no longer a liability in the Chelsea defence

The Brazilian has climbed out from rock bottom with a series of accomplished performances in the Blues' run to the Champion League semi-finals.With their shoulder-length hair and anti-establishment personas, David Luiz and Benfica manager Jorge Jesus could be guitarists in a rock band.A generation apart, they are, however, a millennium apart in attitude and approach to football. One is seasoned and knowledgeable. The other is carefree and gifted with a ball at his feet.One left Stamford Bridge tossing his hair defiantly at the cameras and claiming his team were the moral victors of a Champions League quarter-final tie that confirmed Chelsea’s renaissance under Roberto Di Matteo and proved, too, that Benfica are far more than a feeder club for Roman Abramovich.The other strolled out of the stadium smiling at all and sundry, the extra spring in an always jaunty step perhaps emboldened by the knowledge that he is finally being taken seriously for his primary role: defending.A few months ago Luiz could have been forgiven for thinking that he would be better off back at Benfica under Jesus’ paternal influence.His centre-half displays were torn to shreds by experts, with former Manchester United defender Gary Neville particularly scathing of his positional sense, memorably accusing him of performing like he was "controlled by a 10-year-old on a PlayStation".His technical excellence and comfort on the ball were almost used as collateral for his army of critics. Despite his height and physical power, many claimed Chelsea would be better off if he was 40 yards further up the field, where he could create rather than negate.One school of thought is that Luiz, with his spaghetti curls and laid-back personality, is too insouciant for the job of knuckling down and keeping the back door shut. The task of concentrating on defensive duties for 90 minutes is beyond him.Watch the Chelsea warm-ups and Luiz’s brilliance shines like a beacon. He finishes like a centre-forward and can ping 60-yard eye-of-the-needle passes effortlessly with either foot.Gradually, the 24-year-old is rehabilitating his reputation as a defender. Unsurprisingly for one who took the well-trodden path from Brazil to Portugal in his late teens, it is in European combat that he has looked most comfortable.After the Napoli first-leg horror show that effectively sealed the exit of Andre Villas-Boas, Luiz was outstanding in the second leg and arguably Chelsea’s standout performer in the classic away victory over Benfica nine days ago. Statistics showed the Brazilian made 12 winning tackles. The next best figure by a Chelsea player was John Terry with five.With Terry barking out instructions alongside him, Luiz was imperious for an hour on Wednesday night.He was dominant in the air, made some important blocks and helped snuff out the considerable threat of Oscar Cardozo. Crucially, Luiz kept his concentration and resisted the urge to go wandering up field in search of some attacking japes. He was not afraid of lumping the ball into touch a la Martin Keown when required, either.But when Terry bowed to injury, the introduction of Gary Cahill suddenly sent jitters through the defence. The centre-back pairing who were carved up by Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi in Naples five weeks ago looked all at sea as a partnership once again.The low point came with a few minutes remaining when Pablo Aimar’s whipped-in cross was glanced into the net from a couple of yards by Javi Garcia. Luiz, whose task it was to mark the midfielder, was miles away.The question is whether Chelsea can afford the occasional Luiz aberration while he matures into the blue chip centre-half that Villas-Boas and Carlo Ancelotti were confident he would eventually become.Di Matteo has urged Luiz to be a defender first, and a playmaker second. It is working.The problem is when Terry, whose body appears to be gradually giving up on him, is not around to harangue him into being in the right place at the right time.Cahill is the Chelsea skipper’s heir apparent in the role of grizzled English centre-half but has been exposed against top-class opponents during a difficult three months at Stamford Bridge.Luiz has climbed off rock bottom and is no longer a liability in the blue shirt. He is more reliable than Cahill, certainly in the Champions League, where only Petr Cech can match his 10 appearances this season.But, with Lionel Messi and company on the horizon, he is not yet ready to be the lead man.