Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has admitted that he was delighted to be given the opportunity to make his Champions League debut against Steaua Bucuresti on Wednesday night.

Schwarzer became the second oldest player to feature in the competition in Chelsea's 1-0 victory over the Romanian outfit, and the Australian stopper has revealed that it was "huge" for him to play at the highest level of European football.

The 41-year-old told the Daily Mail: "It was huge. My wife always says that I'm unemotional. I'm very German, she says, in that respect but I was elated, after the game especially.

"The manager had faith in me and trusted me and gave me this opportunity to fulfil a lifetime's ambition to play at the highest level, in the Champions League."

Schwarzer has made a combined total of 51 appearances for Middlesbrough and Fulham in the UEFA Cup and Europa League.

Written by
Darren Plant