Thursday, 12 March 2015

David Luiz apologises for goal celebration

Paris Saint-Germain goalscorer David Luiz apologised for celebrating his goal against former club Chelsea as the English side exited the Champions League following a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.


Chelsea were eliminated as 10-man PSG twice came from behind to win an ill-tempered last-16 tie on away goals.

The first leg was drawn 1-1 and Chelsea's advantage grew when Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off after 31 minutes.

Gary Cahill's strike nine minutes from the end of normal time was cancelled out by former Chelsea defender Luiz, but the hosts went ahead for a second time through an Eden Hazard penalty early in extra-time.

PSG captain Thiago Silva, who conceded the spot-kick for a handball, was denied from a corner by Thibaut Courtois but then netted with a header moments later to make it 2-2 on the night and send the visitors through.

"I think we played a great game," Luiz told Sky Sports. "When we lost Ibra, our best player, you say 'keep it simple.' Play the ball to feet and keep possession as we need to score to qualify. It was amazing tonight the spirit. Every single player gave everything.

"I finished at Chelsea and then I got a great opportunity from PSG -- they gave me a great opportunity to continue my career and I was very happy at Chelsea and won titles here but I finished and then I respect everyone.

"It was good for me to score. I said before I didn't celebrate but there was so much emotion I cannot control and sorry because I celebrated because of the emotion but I am so happy to qualify."

Luiz's teammate and PSG captain Thiago Silva believes his team can win the Champions League this season if they can reproduce more displays like the one turned in against Chelsea.

"I have to congratulate the whole team. It's tough to play 11 versus 11, so 10 against 11 is even more difficult," Silva told beIN SPORTS. "We were very solid at the back, we showed a great mentality. I think we have a lot of quality players who can hurt any team in Europe. If we play like that, it's possible.

"The attitude we showed today, with a player less, was fantastic. We stayed calm and I think we played well. I think we just have to think about ourselves. If we play like that, we can go all the way, if we show that mentality. Of course, it's the club's objective to win the competition, it's also that of the players, and if we play like that, it's possible."

Luiz, 27, only moved to PSG from Chelsea last summer, and following his departure, Jose Mourinho declared the Brazil international would not be missed.

His emphatic 86th-minute header, five minutes after Gary Cahill had put Chelsea ahead, was Luiz's response to his former boss, and was symptomatic of PSG's warrior-like spirit in west London.

"I'm very happy. It was difficult to lose Zlatan Ibrahimovic, one of our best players, so soon, but we kept our spirit and character and we continued playing," Luiz told media. "They scored first, but we always believed in our chances. I'm so happy to have qualified, because it's so difficult to go far in the Champions League."

Chelsea had been expected to make progress after the duo's 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes last month, and follow up last season's last-eight victory over PSG.

Twelve months ago, Laurent Blanc's men had arrived in London for the second leg trying to defend a 3-1 lead. Defender Marquinhos said the fact they needed to get a positive result worked in PSG's favour this time round.

"We came here with the will to win," said Marquinhos. "We didn't win, but we played well with a player less. Everyone gave their all. I'm very proud of the team. We still have a lot of games to go.

"It wasn't easy. We didn't give up right till the end. We knew that if we deserved it, we would go through. We didn't want to repeat the same mistakes as last year. We came to play, to score and to win."

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