Europa League is serious business for Luiz

By FOX SPORTS Staff

The Blues won the Champions League for the first time in their history last season but failed to mount a successful defence of their title in the current campaign as they were knocked out of the competition during the group stages.

However, Chelsea's third-place finish in their group ensured their participation in the Europa League, a competition regarded as inferior to the Champions League. The Blues have thus far progressed into the last-16 of the competition and will take on Romanian outfit Steaua Bucharest on Thursday.

Despite the Europa League's seeming lack of prestige, Luiz claims the Blues are nonetheless focused on winning the competition even as they fight to finish in the top four of the Premier League.

"Everyone at Chelsea knows we have to stay in the top four so we can play in the Champions League again next season," Luiz was quoted as saying by the Sun.

"But I also want to win the titles we're going for.

"I don't go into a Europa League game and think 'I don't care about this'.

"I have never won this competition so I want to feel what it's like to win this title.

"I want to win it just as much as I did the Champions League last year.

"For me, it's another European title."

Luiz also revealed that competition for a spot in the Chelsea first team was intense and claimed he understood the manager's decision to practice a rotation policy.

"No one wants to be on the bench or out of the squad," Luiz added.

"I don't like it but I understand that sometimes you need to pick other players.

"If you don't want to be part of a team, play in every game and just do your own thing, then maybe you should play tennis."

With Chelsea set to face Manchester United, knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid on Tuesday, in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday, Luiz admits he is relishing the opportunity to eliminate the Red Devils from yet another competition.

"It's difficult when you have been knocked out of an amazing competition like the Champions League because your confidence is not the same," Luiz mused.

"The happiness in Manchester United's hearts will not be there and Chelsea can use this to win our game on Sunday. Maybe it gives us an advantage.

"United will be playing at home but some players and supporters will be thinking 'it's not the Champions League' and it will be difficult for them to come in with the same form."

Chelsea beat Sparta Prague 2-1 on aggregate in the previous round [last-32] of the Europa League.