Luiz relishing Costa link-up at Chelsea

David Luiz and Diego Costa butted heads last term as the fiery Champions League ties between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain threatened to boil over.

But the Blues’ newest signing insists now he has returned to Stamford Bridge, the pairing’s passion can only spur the team onwards.

Luiz famously celebrated against his then former employers when he scored for the French side in 2015, and then secured another victory over Chelsea in the same competition one year later – with the 29-year-old squaring up to and even trading blows with Costa on more than one occasion.

Now though, the Brazilian international is looking forward to working with his new Spanish colleague.

“I am pleased we are now on the same side,” said Luiz. “He was an amazing player when I was playing against him.

“He is a guy who gives everything for your team and now I am on his side, for sure I have a great striker for my team and with the spirit of love for football, with passion, so I am happy for that.

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“[PSG and Chelsea] are two very big clubs so they were tough games. The quality was quite the same so I was trying to enjoy them and to win and I was lucky, because all the times I won these ties. I went to the next round with both sides.

“I think that sometimes the life is great but I was feeling sad when I left Chelsea – especially because I didn’t say goodbye to anybody.

“But I can say now that my relationship with everyone here was always amazing, with everyone working here and with the players and I can feel the same respect and the same love now.”

It is not yet clear how Blues boss Antonio Conte will choose to deploy Luiz in Chelsea’s back-line – whether he will compete with Gary Cahill for a spot alongside John Terry or form part of a new-look back three.

But Luiz is confident that however he is used, he can adapt to his new manager’s philosophy.

He said: “The coach is an amazing coach, he understands a lot of tactical things and I know he chooses every match the best line up.

“So if he needs to play three, four or two, it doesn’t matter, I am there if he wants me to play. In different positions I am available.”