DAVID LUIZ INSISTS he and Diego Costa are friends despite continuing their running battle on Wednesday night as 10-man Paris Saint-Germain eliminated Chelsea from the Champions League.
The two men, who first clashed at Parc des Princes last month, both tussled off the ball on numerous occasions during an ill-tempered game at Stamford Bridge before Luiz surged upfield to cancel out Gary Cahill’s 81st-minute opener and send the tie into extra-time with an emphatic header.
Eden Hazard restored Chelsea’s lead but a soaring Thiago Silva header was enough to send PSG — who played for almost 90 minutes with 10 men after Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off in the first half — through to the quarter-finals on away goals, and after the match Luiz played down his altercations with Costa.
“It is normal,” he replied when the subject was raised. “Diego is an amazing player, a top guy and we have a lot of physical [battles]. We are friends and were together after the match. We know each other from before.”
Luiz also apologised for breaking his promise not to celebrate against Chelsea if he scored, admitting the emotion of the occasion got the better of him against his former club.
“I respect everyone here and I was very happy here,” he added. “I said I wouldn’t celebrate if I scored but the emotion of the moment meant I couldn’t keep [to that].
“The fact I don’t score many goals means it is always special for me. I am happy with my team as we showed spirit and character.”
