Luiz was ditched by Conte (Picture: AMA/Getty Images)
Luiz was ditched by Conte (Picture: AMA/Getty Images)

Gary Neville has warned Antonio Conte that his clash with David Luiz could ultimately see him facing the sack at Chelsea, based on recent history at the club.

The former Juventus boss ditched the Brazilian defender from his squad against Manchester United, with the 30-year-old forced to watch on from the stands.

Luiz was punished by the Italian after the humiliating 3-0 defeat to Roma in the Champions League and his decision seemed vindicated after a 1-0 win over Jose Mourinho’s side at Stamford Bridge.

But while Conte may have enjoyed success in the short-term, United legend Neville believes there could be lasting damage from his decision.

‘Every manager who has taken on the players here has gone pretty quickly,’ he said.

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Neville warned Conte he may regret his clash with Luiz (Picture: AMA/Getty)

‘It is a big call because if you take on these players in that dressing room, where David Luiz is a big influence, a big character, you can lose at this club.

‘This is not the end of this — this is the start.

‘Conte has won today, but in two or three weeks’ time if David Luiz is still sat on that bench, every time they concede a goal, the cameras will flip to David Luiz. It was the same with John Terry.’

Liverpool hero Graeme Souness agreed with Neville and believes it could cause rifts among the squad.

Did Conte make the right call? (Picture: PA)

He added: ‘You can do it if you are in a position of strength. To do what he has done is an extremely big call. The only other defender on the bench was [Ethan] Ampadu, who is 17.

‘It’s a hell of a big call and he got away with it. They’ve won and that is a reminder to everyone in that dressing room who the boss is.

‘How many allies does David Luiz have in that dressing room? Maybe three or four who would side with him, and that is what makes the manager vulnerable.

‘You’re not just falling out with one player, you’re falling out with four, five, six — those six could be worth £200million.’