Losing three finals was too much for Luiz

Posted Monday, May 06, 2013 by Foxsports.com

Chelsea defender David Luiz conceded that his team were fired up to reach the Europa League final after having been eliminated from three "finals" earlier in the season.

The Blues beat Basel 3-1 on Thursday night to seal an aggregate 5-2 semi-final win to secure a berth in the May 15 final against Benfica.

It could mean that Chelsea could become the first club to win the Europa League and Champions League in consecutive seasons since Jose Mourinho completed the same feat, in reverse fashion, with Porto in 2004.

And Luiz is especially eager to secure the third trophy of his Blues' career as he has seen them lose out on the Community Shield, Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup this season. Considering them as "finals", Luiz believes that it's about time that Chelsea finally secure some silverware to show for the current season when they face Benfica in the Amsterdam showpiece event.

"This is one more opportunity to win a title - we lost three finals this season, so now is the time to win," Luiz told ITV after the game.

"I try every game to help the team. The second half was better and I am happy we are in the final."

Fernando Torres also got his name on the scoresheet in the 50th minute and the duo of Victor Moses and Luiz added further goals shortly afterwards.

The Spaniard, who notched his fifth goal in the competition, did confess that the side were unanimous in their disappointment at the end of the first half as they went down to Mohamed Salah's 45th-minute strike.

"In the first half we did not perform in the best way and at half time we agreed about that," he said.

"It is about concentration and mentality and we showed that in the second half and we have to take that forward for the future."

Chelsea will now have to return to domestic action and they face a stern test in the form of a trip to Old Trafford to take on recently-crowned champions Manchester United later on Sunday.