Paris Saint-Germain's David Luiz says "Chelsea are better" than last season and that he has never had a problem with Jose Mourinho ahead of next week's reunion with his former club.
Luiz, 27, was in the Blues lineup that overcame PSG in last season's quarterfinal tie before switching to the French champions following the World Cup.
The Brazil international, who spent three-and-a-half seasons in west London, will come up against his ex-teammates in next Tuesday's Last 16 first leg at the Parc des Princes, and said that the additions Chelsea have made to their squad since his departure have improved it.
"Yes, Chelsea are better this season," Luiz told RMC. "Above all, they are better balanced following the arrival of Fabregas. He's perhaps the player they were missing: he balances the midfield, makes the team play well and knows how to hold on to the ball from time-to-time.
"With the arrival of Diego Costa -- a warrior forward who always wants to score and challenge defenders -- and the continuity provided by Mourinho in the dugout, it's logical Chelsea are stronger this season."
Luiz scored an own-goal in PSG's 3-1 first-leg win last season before a late Demba Ba goal in the return at Stamford Bridge took Chelsea through.
"PSG's elimination last year was tough, because it came down to away goals. We'll have to play to our strengths: going forward, playing to win. I have faith in my team. We know Chelsea are an experienced team that has already won the Champions League. They are used to this, and they knocked out PSG last year.
"But we mustn't think about that too much. We have to show and up our level, and play to all our strengths on the pitch."
Luiz could have been forgiven if he had had the added motivation of trying to put one over on Mourinho who -- when Luiz joined PSG in an estimated 50 million euro deal --suggested he would not miss the former Benfica man.
Luiz, however, claimed he held no grudges.
"I still have a good relationship with him. Mourinho is someone who works in the same way with all his players, without making any difference between them. People have tried to find a problem between Jose and me, but that problem has never existed," said Luiz, before adding he was satisfied with his move to the French capital after winning the Champions League and Europa League with Chelsea.
"I think I took the right decision. I had come to the end of the road with Chelsea, and I chose to come here, to Paris. I found a team that gives me a lot of satisfaction. And I hope to continue playing well to take Paris as far as possible."