Maurizio Sarri has admitted that he was impressed by the quality of David Luiz.

Sarri had not anticipated using Luiz in such an important role when he arrived in the summer.

But the Brazilian defender has rolled back the years with some impressive performances this campaign.

"There isn't a lot of time between the training sessions and I think it doesn't help the coach nor the players," said Sarri to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

"It's not even only about the physical aspect but also about the mental one.

"David Luiz surprised me by his availability and cleverness."