---
title: "Ray Wilkins: David Luiz is a penalty waiting to happen"
canonical: "https://readchelsea.com/2016/09/09/ray-wilkins-david-luiz-penalty-waiting-happen/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Oliver Birch"
section: "Chelsea News"
published: "2016-09-09T10:32:02Z"
modified: "2016-09-09T10:32:02Z"
---

# Ray Wilkins: David Luiz is a penalty waiting to happen

Former Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins has criticised Antonio Conte’s decision to spend £34million on bringing David Luiz back to Stamford Bridge, stating the centre-back is a “penalty waiting to happen,” according to [The Evening Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelseas-34m-david-luiz-is-a-penalty-waiting-to-happen-and-antonio-contes-centreback-plans-are-wrong-a3340806.html).

The Brazilian’s unexpected move back to Chelsea following two-years with Paris Saint-Germain has sparked widespread debate amongst football fans and pundits alike.

Many share a similar view to that of Wilkins and believe the rest of the Premier League are chomping at the bit to draw a mistake out of the controversial centre-back.

On the other hand, many see it as a stroke of genius from Conte and believe the Italian has what it takes to get the best out of Luiz on a consistent basis; something that he struggled to do during his first spell with the club.

![Julian Finney/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/483407721.jpg)

He went from amazing to awful in the blink of an eye at times during his first spell with the Blues, and Wilkins can’t understand why he has been brought back to the club.

> We are coming up to Christmas and he loves giving presents away. He is a penalty just waiting to happen, especially as a central defender. Don’t get me wrong, he is a very talented footballer but he is not a centre-half as far as I’m concerned. He is a holding midfield player or a midfield player. He just makes very, very rash decisions and poor decisions as a centre-half. I don’t understand why they brought him back into the fold.

It appears Conte disagrees with Wilkins however, and has completely ruled out the chance of playing Luiz in a holding midfield role.

![Ian Walton/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/465197427.jpg)

Conte said:

> Sometimes he played in a central midfield but I prefer to utilise him in the right position – and for me that is centre-back.