Former Chelsea defender Filipe Luís talked about his brief time at Chelsea, expressing both regret and admiration for the club’s transformation under Maresca. His revelation came from The Obi One Podcast, where Luís praised Chelsea’s tactical setup following their 3-1 defeat to Flamengo in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group stage. Chelsea claimed their first expanded FIFA Club World Cup title by their 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain, as reported by Softfootball.
Reflecting on his 2014–15 spell in London, Luís admitted he struggled to meet expectations despite Chelsea investing €20 million to sign him from Atlético Madrid.
He said in a video shared by The Obi One Podcast official X account:
Chelsea made a big effort to bring me from Atlético, and I know Marina and Abramovich believed in me. I feel sorry because I did not play well enough. I was not myself at that time.
The Brazilian still holds affection for Chelsea, mentioning familiar faces like Billy and Kevin who remain part of the setup. Luís also revealed the emotional turmoil he faced before meeting Chelsea with Flamengo.
He confessed:
Days before the game, I was having nightmares. When I watched Chelsea play under Maresca, I thought we were finished. For me, Chelsea is one of the best tactical teams in Europe. It is almost impossible to press them; they build from the back so well.
Watch the video below:
His comments have been widely praised by supporters, many of whom admired his honesty and affection for the club. Softfootball previews Chelsea’s upcoming London derby against Tottenham, a fixture that promises more emotions for Blues fans.
