David Luiz has had a very special career. Having played for Benfica (2007-2011), Chelsea (2011-2014 and 2016-2019), Paris Saint-Germain (2014-2016), and Arsenal (2019-2021), among others, he then had a stint in Brazil before joining Paphos FC this summer. The Cypriot club is playing in the Champions League, and before facing AS Monaco, the Brazilian spoke to L’Equipe. It was an opportunity to reflect on his years in Paris and give his opinion on the current PSG.
David Luiz: “It was one of the best moments of my career.”
“If we say PSG 2014-2016, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?”
“It’s one of the best teams I’ve played for.” We were unlucky not to win the Champions League together. We came close (two quarter-final eliminations, against FC Barcelona and Manchester City). But in the two years I was in France, I won every domestic trophy. We really enjoyed playing that possession-based style of football. I miss that team a lot.
What is your biggest regret?
The only disappointment is that this team didn’t manage to win the Champions League. I remember that in the second leg against City (in the 2016 quarter-finals, 0-1, 2-2 in the first leg), we were playing without several players (Blaise Matuidi and I were suspended, Thiago Motta was injured in the first half), so there was disappointment about that. But that’s all. Otherwise, it was one of the best moments of my career.
David Luiz: “I really think it’s Luis Enrique who makes the difference.” “
Is there a current PSG player who impresses you?
Not just one. All the players are fantastic. It’s no coincidence that (Ousmane) Dembélé won the Ballon d’Or, it’s no coincidence that (Désiré) Doué is fantastic too, Vitinha, João (Neves), (Khvicha) Kvaratskhelia, Nuno (Mendes)…
But I really think it’s Luis Enrique who makes the difference. Because he’s someone who has helped all these players improve, both collectively and individually. He’s someone who knows what he’s doing, who understands football, who understands life. He’s an example for me, someone I greatly admire.”
It’s always a pleasure to see a player show such joy when talking about his time at PSG. Today, this period is somewhat minimized, even overlooked, compared to the immense performance achieved in the 2024-2025 season. Yet, it was a very good team, one that often impressed in Ligue 1 and several times in Europe. Unfortunately, they lacked that little something extra to get past the quarter-final hurdle. But it’s also a very difficult competition, and that was part of the club’s learning process.
Nevertheless, we saw some memorable passages of play and admirable victories. With players who enjoyed themselves and have great memories, like David Luiz. He also knows how to recognize the extraordinary level of PSG today (which shouldn’t diminish the team of the past).
There are world-class players in every position who are perfectly integrated into a strong and compelling collective vision. And an attractive one, because there’s an attacking and energetic style. This also helps this Paris team to be so universally admired. We must make the most of it and applaud the work of coach Luis Enrique and his staff. Not forgetting the recruitment, which is often very well targeted.
