Football
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PSG's David Luiz concedes Barcelona controlled both legs, were better team

Paris Saint-Germain defender David Luiz offered no excuses as his side were knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona, with the 5-1 aggregate scoreline in their quarterfinal clash highlighting the chasm in class between the two sides.

Luiz was singled out for criticism after his uncertain performance at the heart of the PSG defence in the first leg last week and there were again question marks over his positional sense as his compatriot Neymar scored twice to ease Barca into the semifinal in comfortable style.

"They were a better team than us in both games," Luiz said in an interview with ITV. "They controlled both games and they deserved to qualify.

"We didn't take the opportunities to score in the first match. We didn't play well, but we had seven or eight opportunities. In this game, they were better than us."

One of PSG's most recognizable players came in for yet more criticism following his latest performance, with former Manchester United captain Roy Keane suggesting the £40 million Brazilian was out of his depth at the top level of the game.

"I actually feel sorry for him, he just looks lost," said ITV pundit Keane. "He doesn't smell danger and the stuff there is literally schoolboy stuff.

"You've got to give the boy sympathy, a little bit. Because he doesn't look like he knows what he's doing."

Luiz did his best to brush his latest batch of personal criticism aside, as he tried to deflect attention away from his own display by pouring praise on Barcelona forwards Neymar and Luis Suarez, who proved to be the match winners over the course of the two legs against PSG.

"This team understand the philosophy of Barcelona now," he stated of the attacking duo. "They know now what they need to do with the philosophy of Barca and they are proving it at the moment."

Despite spending a lot of money in the transfer market in recent years, PSG have yet to make it through to the Champions League semifinals, yet Luiz was keen to promote the idea that they are edging closer to Europe's top sides.

"Of course we need to improve year by year and next time we fight again to win the Champions League," he added. "Barca spent a lot of money for many, many years, all the teams spend money. We did very, very well until here, but the games against Barca was not at our best."

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