David Luiz shouldn't be Brazil's scapegoat – Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has insisted David Luiz is not the only one to blame for Brazil’s defensive horror show.
Skipper Luiz is shouldering the bulk of criticism for the amazing collapse in discipline that resulted in the World Cup hosts exiting in shame after a 1-7 defeat to Germany on Tuesday night.
The former Chelsea man was caught marauding up the field, missing key tackles and failing to mark German attackers during a historic crash by Phil Scolari’s side. He later apologised to his nation in a tearful interview, begging forgiveness and admitting the performance had shamed his side, who critics always feared were driven to the semi finals on a wave of emotion, rather than flair.
Chelsea boss Mourinho, who managed to sell Luiz to Paris Saint-Germain for an astounding sum of £50million before the World Cup kicked off, says the entire Brazil team had a nightmare.
Mourinho said: “I don’t think it’s fair to separate a player from the team, because the team was really bad. “David made mistakes? Yes he did. But, Dante made mistakes, Marcelo made mistakes, Fernandinho made mistakes. The team as a team made mistakes.
“So I don’t think it’s fair. I think everyone in my situation, everyone that is a player, everyone that is a coach, everyone that is not involved in the World Cup, but could be in that position.”
Maicon, Dante, Luiz and Marcelo turned in one of the most disorganised performances ever in such a crucial game, allowing Germany to run riot.
Luiz’s positional heat map shows he wandered way out of position and tried to play as a midfield rather than a stopper, creating havoc. Luiz’s match stats show he did precious little of the defensive dirty work required against such an attacking side as Germany. He only won one header under pressure, and made three successful tackles. He repeatedly sprayed long cross field balls from wide positions, and committed three fouls, not many for an under pressure defender.
But Mourinho, speaking as Yahoo’s Global Football Ambassador, has sympathy for Brazil. He added: “I think all of us are feeling really sorry for them. Because it is a historical moment.
“It is a moment that we will remember forever the same way that we all know that once many, many, many years ago, once Brazil lost a World Cup final against Uruguay in America and the same way my son who is fourteen years old son knows that.
“In fifty years’ time our kids will know that Brazil lost at home against Germany, one to seven. From my point of view, from the professional point of view, it’s heart-breaking and I’m really sorry for them.
“The problem for them in my opinion was that the spirit they built in the national team. And they probably thought that spirit would be enough, and would be the main quality to win the World Cup was not enough.
“It was enough arrive to arrive into the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, they face a team that was better than them. A team that behave with a fantastic stability and confidence in this game. Everything went in their direction.
“They catch Brazil in a very fragile defensive situation. I think it’s just a principle to try to change, in relation to the next campaign they will have, to change their philosophy and believe in the fantastic talent they have, because of players they do what they want because they have dozens and dozens.”
Credit: The Mirror (UK)