David Luiz now a cornerstone of Chelsea's future Luiz has grown in stature of late for Chelsea. Former manager Andre Villas-Boas had faith in him - as did Ancelotti (although that ebbed after a fatefully poor performance away to Manchester United last May when he was substituted at half-time) - and declared that Luiz was not a Brazilian international without good reason. Luiz continued to be derided as a liability but it's been lost that his performances have improved. In the last two Champions League matches - at home to Napoli and away to Benfica on Wednesday evening - he has arguably been Chelsea's best player. Certainly at his former home, the Stadium of Light, on Wednesday evening he was the rallying point for Chelsea's defence, with several key interventions, as John Terry alongside dealt with the physical threat of striker Oscar Cardozo. Luiz had, admittedly, performed haplessly away to Napoli and even last Saturday when he came on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur, there was evidence of his customary rashness. His best position remains central defender even if Ancelotti toyed with the idea of playing him as a holding midfielder - but didn't commit to doing so - while Luiz has also featured at right-back and left-back for his previous clubs. Chelsea supporters, having immediately taken Luiz to their hearts when he arrived as his performances lifted the side, lost faith in him but that appears to be returning. It shouldn't be forgotten that there was similar derision for Ramires, Luiz's former Benfica team-mate and a fellow Brazilian international, when he arrived at Chelsea only for him to be the club's most consistent performer this season along with Villas-Boas's key signing, Juan Mata. Observers are too quick to judge. It hasn't helped Luiz that the Chelsea defence has chopped and changed with Terry injured, Alex leaving, problems at right-back when Branislav Ivanovic is unavailable and also Ashley Cole enduring his most difficult season at Stamford Bridge. Luiz now appears to be a cornerstone of Chelsea's future along with Mata and Ramires, who has signed a new contract, although with Villas-Boas's departure that has become less certain. All three players - along with Raul Meireles and Oriol Romeu - were close to the Portuguese manager and were extremely upset when he was sacked. Chelsea may have work to do to persuade some of those players to remain at the club although the likelihood is they will not be sold even if they express any discontent. Chelsea have other players to move on and don't want to lose the younger brigade who are set to eventually succeed the likes of Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, although Daniel Sturridge's future could lie elsewhere. There will be no shortage of takers for Luiz if he was for sale. Before he signed for Chelsea, Manchester City had made inquiries, but didn't want to meet the asking price, while there was genuine interest from Real Madrid. More recently Barcelona have been linked with a move and, again, there does appear to be substance in that with the club seeking a long-term successor to their ageing captain Carles Puyol. Certainly Luiz would fit into Barca's style. After all Arsène Wenger likened Lionel Messi to a "PlayStation" footballer also (though not one controlled by a child). So Luiz would be in good company should be depart. But Chelsea surely won't want him to go.