PARIS - Demba Ba admitted to somewhat mixed feelings after coming off the bench to score the goal that took Chelsea into the Champions League semi-finals at Paris Saint-Germain's expense on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old came on for Frank Lampard midway through the second half and bundled the ball into the net three minutes from time to give Chelsea a 2-0 win on the night and take them into the last four on away goals as the tie finished 3-3 on aggregate.
It was a huge boost for a player who has been out of favour for much of this season at Stamford Bridge but it was also a strange feeling for Ba to eliminate PSG - Ba was born in Sevres in the Paris suburbs and is a fan of the French capital club.
"I am very happy for me, the club and my family too. I don't know if the goal has any special significance, other than the fact that we are in the semi-finals," he told French television.
"It was a bit tough seeing Paris with their heads down at the end. Since I've supported them, there have only been two times that I've wanted PSG to lose - last week and today," he added.
Ba, who is a Senegalese internationalist, has never played senior football in France. He had spells in Belgium and Germany before first moving to England in 2011 to join West Ham United.