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Benitez will get us firing says Luiz

David Luiz says he is motivated to play in the Europa League because he hasn't won it yet © Getty Images

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David Luiz has said Chelsea will be a much stronger force when they adapt to new manager Rafa Benitez's methods.

Luiz, who scored the opening goal of Chelsea's ultimately futile 6-1 Champions League win against Nordsjaelland at Stamford Bridge, also stressed that the Blues would take the Europa League seriously.

The Nordsjaelland win was the first of Benitez's reign and Luiz said: "It was a great game from all the players with intensity, quality, and we scored goals so this is good for the future. "We have a new coach and philosophy, and the quicker we get used to it, the better for the team."

The defender, meanwhile, said the fact that he had never won the Europa League was enough of an incentive to approach the competition with full commitment.

"The Europa League is glamorous for me because I don't have this title, so I want to win it," he added. "I look now to that, and want to win it.

"Playing Thursdays and Sundays is OK. I prefer playing games than training, so if you had games every day I'd prefer it. Of course, sometimes we might be a little tired, but you have to rest when you have time, eat well and so, in the games, you can run for 90 minutes at the right level."

However, he said there was a sense of frustration that Chelsea's defence of the Champions League had ended in the group stages.

"Big clubs should be playing in big games," he said. "We won the Champions League last season. This time we are out of the group, and it is a little bit sad.

"It's not a shock - we are fighting with big clubs, and the Champions League is not a small competition. The key game was at home to Juventus. We were 2-0 up and conceded two goals. It was a bad game, and it killed us in the group.

"Chelsea need to play in the Champions League every year, and we have this in our heads."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.