Cesc Fàbregas

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Fabregas: Fine football but far to go

Chelsea hit the ground running following the two-week international break, completely controlling Saturday afternoon’s contest against West Bromwich and taking the points thanks to two first-half goals.

Cesc Fabregas was once again at the centre of plenty that was good and the Spaniard had high praise indeed for the team’s display in that opening period especially.

‘I don’t think I am exaggerating if I don’t remember playing and enjoying a football match as much as I did personally in the first half,’ he said after the game.

‘We played outstanding football. It is always difficult after internationals because the team doesn’t have time to work on many things and prepare the game but I enjoyed it a lot, particularly the first 45 minutes.

‘Some people who didn’t watch the game will think 2-0, it was just an okay game but it was much more than that. It was a beautiful performance, very consistent, a clean sheet, we created plenty of chances and we had control of the game. That is why I think we need to be more effective in front of goal and score more goals and send an even bigger message to our opponents.’

Following Diego Costa’s opener, Fabregas added another to his impressive tally of assists when Eden Hazard scored from his corner. With West Brom playing the end of the first half and the second 45 minutes not only 2-0 behind but down to 10 men, the midfielder reckons those factors may have contributed to a drop in intensity in Chelsea’s second-half football although there was no conscious decision to take the foot off the pedal.

‘We saw the game was comfortable and maybe they [West Brom] dropped off a lot and they were just defending and they didn’t want to try to attack.

‘It is not the mentality but subconsciously when there are 15 minutes left and you know that you are winning and they haven’t created anything then maybe it brings into your head some more negative thoughts - but overall the first 45 minutes were outstanding, the second 45 not as good but still professional and consistent. We are very happy because the main objective was three points and on top of that, if you can play great football then even better.’

Twelve league games unbeaten at the start of a top-flight season is a new Chelsea record and the lead at the top of the table remains healthy, but the dressing room is determined not to get carried away.

‘We know it is a long way to go and we don’t look at all the comments from TV, press or fans because if you start looking at it now, everyone will think that Chelsea has already won the title and it is not like that. We are professionals and some of us have been playing these type of competitions for a very long time and we have only played a few games really [this season]. It is a long way to go and we still have to do better than that.

‘I don’t compare us with any other big sides because we haven’t won anything, this is just the beginning. Everyone is talking well about Chelsea now, how great we are and then you lose two games they will talk about how bad we are. We have been long enough in football not to fall into this trap and to just keep going the way we want to achieve things.’

http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2014/11/fabregas--fine-football-but-far-to-go-.html

[Barbara 15,149]

‘I don’t compare us with any other big sides because we haven’t won anything, this is just the beginning. Everyone is talking well about Chelsea now, how great we are and then you lose two games they will talk about how bad we are. We have been long enough in football not to fall into this trap and to just keep going the way we want to achieve things.’

So often we see the players using the same words Mourinho does, and then you can just be sure that he isn't speaking that for media and telling a completely different story in the locker room.

I feel like this is what he tells the players - "For us to be comparable to Invincible Arsenal, Chelsea of 2005 or anyone else, we have to win things first because those teams were champions. So let's make sure we keep biting strong, winning, looking for the win at all costs, then we'll win the league and maybe be even considered bigger than those other teams".

At the same time he's saying there's no parameter to make the comparison he's also fueling them up to be even better than some of the remarkable winning sides were.

I just loved everything Fabregas said in the interview... his will to send even a bigger message to our rivals is all I want too. I'm positive the others have the same way of thinking and I feel it's only a matter of time before we start capitalizing our chances more. CAN. NOT. WAIT. Although I'm very happy with the team now regardless.

[Special Juan 27,430]

One of the smartest buys this club has ever made.

[The Skipper 20,593]

To think some thought Fabregas wasn't a Mourinho signing. Ha. The two have a lot in common personality wise. Keeps getting better with Fabregas.

[Muzchap 8,966]

To think some thought Fabregas wasn't a Mourinho signing. Ha. The two have a lot in common personality wise. Keeps getting better with Fabregas.

Mourinho loves winners - and Cesc wants to be a winner in England- it's a match made in heaven...

With Terry, Cesc, Drogba in the dressing room - it's got to give the lads a lot of confidence.

We could be a little more ruthless at times - but yesterday was all about 3 points, no injuries and saving energy for a gruelling schedule!

[lionsden 4,689]

I find his MOTD comment difficult to believe for a player that has played for 2 of the most ball dominant and creative teams ever in their prime. We played brilliantly in the 1st half but barca and Arsenal in particular have had much better halftime performances during his time at both clubs.

I have seen Barca and Arsenal literally batter teams into absolute submission with the opposition just desperate to hold on for dare life and not even able to advance the ball past their own half. for all the hype about our first half performance, we still only created about 5 clear cut chances and gave the ball away on a couple of occasions. The 2004-2009 Arsenal and 2011-2013 barca have had much better performances both halftime and fulltime.

But then again that's his opinion.

[Heisenberg 1,824]

Glad he didnt play in 5-0 El Clasico thrashing, Barca probably played their greatest game in history that day, so Cesc's standards are still matchable, dont think we'll hear that from any Barca players that played in the 11-12 season.

[lionsden 4,689]

Glad he didnt play in 5-0 El Clasico thrashing, Barca probably played their greatest game in history that day, so Cesc's standards are still matchable, dont think we'll hear that from any Barca players that played in the 11-12 season.

He joined them in 2011

[The Chels 2,502]

[ayoub costa 19]

i think we need a player like guarin or wanyama or shnardlin .Huge infrastructure for the big games .and for the champions legues

must also be a balance between skill and physical strength

[Dion 2,476]

I find his MOTD comment difficult to believe for a player that has played for 2 of the most ball dominant and creative teams ever in their prime. We played brilliantly in the 1st half but barca and Arsenal in particular have had much better halftime performances during his time at both clubs.

I have seen Barca and Arsenal literally batter teams into absolute submission with the opposition just desperate to hold on for dare life and not even able to advance the ball past their own half. for all the hype about our first half performance, we still only created about 5 clear cut chances and gave the ball away on a couple of occasions. The 2004-2009 Arsenal and 2011-2013 barca have had much better performances both halftime and fulltime.

But then again that's his opinion.

But the best part he talked about was enjoying the match, not about dominance per se. Even though he might have played matches for Barca and Arsenal when they dominated sides more than we did, perhaps the feeling wasn't the same for Cesc because he was not as central to it as he was for us, didn't he have something like 150 passes in the match? You ought to feel good when you're a player that likes the ball at your feet and you literally made 50% more passes than the second highest passer in your team.

[lionsden 4,689]

But the best part he talked about was enjoying the match, not about dominance per se. Even though he might have played matches for Barca and Arsenal when they dominated sides more than we did, perhaps the feeling wasn't the same for Cesc because he was not as central to it as he was for us, didn't he have something like 150 passes in the match? You ought to feel good when you're a player that likes the ball at your feet and you literally made 50% more passes than the second highest passer in your team.

Hard to disagree with that.

[Nike 373]

Chelsea gone from willian/oscar taking corners to cesc....

That in itself was a huge improvement. However, I do wonder how Cesc will play when chelsea plays rm, barca, psg, munich, dortmund in the champs league...

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I imagine Barca's tiki-taka was rather boring for players to play most of the time.

[Jase 43,479]

I imagine Barca's tiki-taka was rather boring for players to play most of the time.

Not if you're Xavi...

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Not if you're Xavi...

Tbf Xavi had other duties on the pitch to keep him entertained besides just passing the ball four yards:

[Styles 9,790]

I find his MOTD comment difficult to believe for a player that has played for 2 of the most ball dominant and creative teams ever in their prime. We played brilliantly in the 1st half but barca and Arsenal in particular have had much better halftime performances during his time at both clubs.

I have seen Barca and Arsenal literally batter teams into absolute submission with the opposition just desperate to hold on for dare life and not even able to advance the ball past their own half. for all the hype about our first half performance, we still only created about 5 clear cut chances and gave the ball away on a couple of occasions. The 2004-2009 Arsenal and 2011-2013 barca have had much better performances both halftime and fulltime.

But then again that's his opinion.

That's what happened in the first half though. It was complete and utter domination and only their keeper kept the score from being 3 or 4 (Foster made great saves to deny both Terry and Oscar; Costa missed a great chance by a few inches). It was as dominant a performance as anything I've seen from Barca, Arsenal etc so it's not far-fetched on Fabregas' side to make such a statement, imo.

I know it's only West Brom and the score wasn't reflective of how the game went but that first-half was pretty amazing. I haven't felt that relaxed watching a game in years.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

disgusted to see him in our squad

Funny to see some first reaction about Fabregas's signing now