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Once compared to a Playstation player controlled by a 10-year-old - now David Luiz is simply being likened to an eight-year-old

Glenn Hoddle lays into the PSG defender after Champions League defeat to Barcelona

Simon Rice
Thursday 16 April 2015 11:26 BST
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David Luiz alongside Edinson Cavani
David Luiz alongside Edinson Cavani (GETTY IMAGES)

David Luiz is as familiar with criticism as he is success.

The Brazil international has won the Champions League, the FA Cup, been named in Fifa's World Cup Dream Team and won 47 caps for the most successful team in international history. Paris St Germain thought he was so good they were willing to spend £48m on him.

But then there is the criticism.

Gary Neville famously said of the defender during his time at Chelsea that he played as if he was "controlled by a 10-year-old in the crowd on a Playstation".

During the 2014 World Cup, his semi-final performance in the calamitous 7-1 defeat for the hosts at the hands of Germany was widespread.

And now Glenn Hoddle has joined in, saying he looked like an eight-year-old during the 3-1 Champions League defeat against Barcelona at Parc de Princes.

"Even if you're not 100 per cent fit you can't show that lack of intent," former England manager Hoddle said on Sky Sports.

"He's the last man on the pitch when Suarez picks the ball up and starts running at him. He realises he's the last man and the very last thing (you should do) when you're last man is jump in. You bide time for your team to get around you.

"He does what an eight year old who hasn't been coached does. He tries to win it by putting both of his feet together but when he does that he can't move anywhere. Suarez nutmegs him again."

Luis Suarez and David Luiz compete in the Champions League (GETTY IMAGES)

PSG face an uphill task to reach the semi-finals, but were at least given some hope thanks to Jeremy Mathieu's own goal. They meet again next Tuesday.

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