Brazil vs Germany World Cup 2014: 'Don’t single out David Luiz for humiliation,' says his former manager at Chelsea Jose Mourinho
Luiz signed for Ligue 1 side PSG during the tournament in Brazil
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Your support makes all the difference.Jose Mourinho has said it is unfair to blame David Luiz for Brazil’s 7-1 World Cup semi-final humiliation at the hands of Germany.
Luiz stood in as captain on the night in the absence of suspended central-defensive partner Thiago Silva and was singled out as having put in a dire performance with Brazil going 5-0 down after just 29 minutes.
While there can be little doubt that the absence of his Paris Saint-German team-mate was instrumental in destabilising the hosts early in the match, Luiz came in for widespread criticism from pundits and public alike.
“I don’t think it’s fair to separate a player from the team, because the team was really bad,” said the Chelsea manager, who sold Luiz to PSG for a reported fee of £50 million last month before the tournament began.
“David made mistakes? Yes he did. But Dante made mistakes, Marcelo made mistakes, Fernandinho made mistakes,” Mourinho (right) added. “The team as a team made mistakes. So I don’t think it’s fair.”
The Portuguese also said he felt sorry for Brazil, who are coached by Luiz Felipe Scolari – the second of seven managers appointed by Chelsea after Mourinho’s first stint at the club came to an end in 2007.
Scolari lasted just 36 matches before Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich replaced him with Guus Hiddink in 2009.
“I think all of us are feeling really sorry for them because it is a historical moment,” Mourinho told Yahoo. “A moment that we will remember forever the same way that we all know that once many, many, many years ago, once Brazil lost a World Cup final against Uruguay in America and the same way my son who is 14 years old son knows that.
“In 50 years’ time our kids will know that Brazil lost at home against Germany, 1-7. From my point of view, from the professional point of view, it’s heart-breaking and I’m really sorry for them.”
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