Jose Mourinho insists Chelsea's revamped squad is stronger without David Luiz and his side will not miss the defender on the pitch this season.
Luiz, widely criticised after Brazil's 7-1 World Cup semi-final humiliation to winners Germany, completed a £50 million move to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this summer, which made him the world's most expensive defender.
Mourinho admitted his side may lack the 27-year-old's personality, but he believes they have not had any trouble in replacing him.
"Last season he was not regular first-choice for us," Mourinho said. "David did important things here, was always a good professional and we will miss him as a good guy when he was with us. But from a football point of view we believe our squad is stronger this season than it was.
"As a central defender he was not at all [first-choice], it was John [Terry] and [Gary] Cahill during the whole season. In midfield he was a physical guy and gave us some important things, especially when we played in the Champions League when Nemanja Matic couldn't play.
"This season Matic can play in the Champions League so we don't lose that physicality. The fact we also have Cesc Fabregas moves us in a different direction and we want to move in a different direction. It's something that our football needs and we want to go in that direction."
Terry kept Luiz out of Chelsea's defence last season, but the captain's future at the club has not been assured by Mourinho.
The Portuguese wants Terry, who desires a further 12 months at Stamford Bidge once his one-year deal expires next summer, to prove his worth to the team and earn a new contract.
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