Conte’s reshaped team drove a huge hole in Manchester United title hopes thanks to Alvaro Morata’s 55th-minute header at Stamford Bridge - and eased the mounting pressure on the Italian after poor recent results.
Conte dropped Luiz after the midweek 3-0 Champions League thumping by Roma, and saw his team keep their second clean sheet in nine games.
Asked by a television reporter if Luiz - who had reacted angrily after being substituted three weeks ago - had a future at the club, Conte said: “I don’t know. He has to work really hard - otherwise they are on the bench or in the stand.”
The Chelsea manager explained: “It’s very simple. The coach has to make the best decision for the team. Last night the best decision was to go with Andreas Christensen. I make the best decision for the club - not for a single player.
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Chelsea boss Antonio Conte sent a strong message to the players
Last night the best decision was to go with Andreas Christensen
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte
“It was a tactical decision. This can happen to every one of my players. I have to put my face to every decision. I have a squad with 16 players. I have said that David was the best defender in my team - but things can change.“
Conte added: “My players showed desire and the will to fight. This was a big result for us.“
Conte was too busy celebrating on the pitch after the game to shake rival Jose Mourinho’s hand - and he said: “At the end I went to shake the hand of the referee, the linesmen and then my players. I think that shaking hands two times is enough.“
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Alvaro Morata scored the winner for Chelsea on 55 minutes with a fine header
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A disappointed Mourinho said: “You want me to go and chase him into the middle of the pitch? I was there, I shook hands with the people who were there, I think one of them was his brother. I did my duty.
“Yes, we are worried about the gap between us and Manchester City at the top. But there are 18 other teams more worried than us, because we are second.
"In the busy period in late November, December and January, we are going to be at our maximum strength when we get all our players back.”
