Champions League Criticism of PSG Defender David Luiz Misses the Mark

On Wednesday night, Paris Saint-Germain were soundly beaten, 3-1, in Paris by a rampant Barcelona, putting their future in this season's Champions League in grave danger. It was a nightmare evening for Brazilian David Luiz, who was twice nutmegged by Luis Suarez to rub salt into the wounds.

It is impossible to defend his positioning and technique in those situations; the former Chelsea defender faced up to Suarez, which was asking for trouble against a striker with a reputation for running through opponents.

However, the criticism aimed toward the defender has been unjust and extreme. PSG’s defeat to Barcelona goes much deeper than David Luiz, but it is easy to point the finger at the Brazilian.

"

David Luiz chambré sur les réseaux sociaux http://t.co/z4NU8mx45P pic.twitter.com/e7emfp3FRu

— L'ÉQUIPE (@lequipe) April 16, 2015"

Just 10 days before the Barcelona match, David Luiz had to come off against Marseille at the Stade Velodrome. It was diagnosed as a thigh injury and was reported that he could be out for as much as four weeks.

It was a huge surprise, then, that he was named in PSG’s squad for Wednesday night’s fixture with Barca. Perhaps the plan was to give him 10 minutes off the bench, but questions have to be asked as to what state his body was in after such a quick return.

Either the PSG doctor got the initial diagnosis completely wrong, Laurent Blanc made a poor judgement or perhaps David Luiz wasn’t completely honest about his fitness.

"

Criticism of David Luiz extremely harsh. If #PSG had any depth at centre-back, he wouldn't have been risked so soon after injury.

— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) April 15, 2015"

"

David Luiz will get a lot of stick for his display tonight, but he was obviously not close to full fitness. PSG utterly outclassed though

— Andy Scott (@andpscott) April 15, 2015"

Whatever the reason, it backfired. Thiago Silva had to come off in the first half, and rather than go with the experience of Zoumana Camara, Blanc fed Silva's compatriot to the Barcelona wolves.

"

Zoumana Camara would have been a better option for a less than half fit David Luiz tonight. Only Blanc can answer that one. #PSG

— 1970 PSG (@1970_PSG) April 15, 2015"

There is no doubting Luiz got caught out, but would he receive the same level of criticism if he hadn’t cost PSG £50 million last summer?

He has a reputation of having a mistake in him, and since this move to Paris, everything he does wrong is immediately highlighted. Watching him perform in Ligue 1, 90 per cent of what he does is great, but the other 10 per cent is what people are told about, meaning the reputation grows.

This season, 12 of his 23 games in Ligue 1 have ended with PSG picking up a clean sheet. David Luiz was superb in the midfield when PSG drew 1-1 with Chelsea in the first leg of their last-16 tie. He was almost faultless when PSG eliminated his former club at Stamford Bridge—even scoring a crucial equaliser.

Back when Barcelona came to Paris in the group stage, the 27-year-old was imperious. He put in an inspirational performance against a star-studded attack.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Regardless of what PSG paid for the defender, price doesn’t guarantee performances or consistency. The player’s contract and the situation of both the buying and selling club determines the price, not just the player’s ability.

It is in no way David Luiz’s fault that PSG paid way over the odds. There is absolutely nothing he can do about that, and it should not be a barometer of how good a player he is.

It is clear he is not a £50 million player, but lacking full fitness up against a strike trio that would perhaps cost £300 million at the very least puts Luiz's price tag into perspective.

The bigger question is why PSG spent so much on one player rather than strengthening the squad more efficiently last summer. Suspensions to three players and a few injuries left Blanc without decent options in certain areas.

It doesn’t help when players such as Yohan Cabaye and Edinson Cavani have not lived up to the reputations they arrived with. It’s too easy to criticise and say that a player costing over €60 million should score more goals, but again, the price tag doesn’t determine how many chances Cavani puts away.

What is more disappointing is that this is a striker who scored 29 goals in Serie A during his last season with Napoli. That is what you are buying, and that is the player PSG were hoping to have bought.

PSG need to learn from their David Luiz mistake this summer. The squad needs boosting and some players have outstayed their welcome. The Brazilian certainly isn’t one of them.

If he can shake off the stigma of his price tag, he will go on to have a very successful PSG career, especially in the eyes of the people who watch him every week.