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Chelsea defender David Luiz says he is ready to step up and fill club legend John Terry's shoes both on the pitch and as a leader. Terry ended his 19-year association with Chelsea this summer when he moved to Championship side Aston Villa, having won a catalogue of trophies in his time at Stamford Bridge and made more than 700 appearances. Luiz re-signed for Chelsea last summer having previously played for the club between 2011 and 2014, and the 30-year-old Brazilian insists he is ready to take on extra responsibility in Terry's absence. "It's not about the armband, it's about your leadership every day, your discipline and the way you try to help the team," Luiz told reporters. "I have already had the armband here and I always try to be a leader and try to help. "I have loved this responsibility since I was young. I was the youngest captain in Benfica history, so I always take responsibility. "When you play for big clubs you always have responsibility. This is just a case of us having to carry on. "I don't know [who the next captain will be]. I think it continues to be Gary [Cahill]. Gary's playing, why not? "John was a leader. He was not just the guy with the armband. He was a leader and a great guy, especially last season which was a different season for his career because he didn't play a lot. He was still great with the team, trying to help and to be together. "I give my words for him because he deserves it: top class, top level and he was doing what he loved to do, be a leader, no matter if he was playing or not. He is a leader because he has this in his personality and he did it." Having won his first Premier League title last season, Luiz said he is hungry for more, and is also looking forward to being back in the Champions League. But the 56-cap Brazil international added the team will need to improve their performances if they are to have any chance of replicating last season's success. "I want to have the opportunity to do it again [win the league]. We have the chance this season. So we have to fight. "It's never easy. The Champions League is a freak competition. You need to arrive in the right moment with the best players not injured, not suspended, in the best level. "Sometimes you do amazing in the group stage and then after you don't have the best players or they're not in the best moment physically. It's a top-level competition, so this makes a difference. Let's see. I hope we can arrive in the right moments at the right level. "We need to do better than last season if we want to win again the Premier League and do well in Europe in the Champions League."
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