Cesc
Fabregas admits he has sparked his football career back to life since
returning to London.
Despite now playing for former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, a coach he
grew to dislike during an eight-year spell at Arsenal and a three-year stay
in Barcelona, the Chelsea midfielder could not be happier.
In an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais, Fabregas said: "Three years
ago I wouldn't have imagined working under Mourinho.
"But in the end, life has many turns, and more so in football. We had a big
rivalry with Mou (Mourinho), we were against him but I never hated him."
During his years at Arsenal, Mourinho was not the only Chelsea figure that
Fabregas disliked.
"Chelsea was the team that I wanted to beat the most," he said. "I also had
a lot of spats with (John) Terry but in the end, we are people.
"I'm not driven by hate."
Past rivalries did not prevent Fabregas from moving to Stamford Bridge last
summer on a five-year contract.
He needed a fresh start after three difficult seasons at Barcelona.
"At Barcelona, things didn't go as I had desired but I'm nevertheless proud
of what I did," the 27-year-old said. "I won titles although I was not
recognised."
What the Spain international says he has discovered is that Mourinho has
many attributes, just as his former Barca coach Pep Guardiola has.
"They are both winners," he said. "They both hate to lose. They are much
more similar than people think.
"They worked differently but they both like to play attractive football.
Fabregas will always have a soft spot for Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger.
Grateful
"I will always be grateful," he said. "For a young player he is the best
coach in the world.
"You make a mistake and he includes you (in the team), you make another
mistake and he includes you, you get booed and he includes you.
"He doesn't care. He believes in you. He always had confidence in me."
Arsenal turned down an option to acquire him last summer, which made it easy
for Fabregas to join Chelsea.
"I returned to London because I try to go to the places where I feel loved
and happy," he said. "The change from Arsenal to Chelsea from a sporting
point of view has not been that big.
"Had I made that change three years ago, I guessed it would have been a
bigger adjustment but not now. Chelsea has changed, it's not the team that I
expected. Now it's a team that wants to have a starring role.
"It wants to dominate games, have more possession. From a football
standpoint is similar to Arsenal."
More importantly, Fabregas feels appreciated.
"I feel really valued and respected more than in Spain but it's normal," he
said. "I spent eight years at Arsenal and now I have returned.
"I'm having a good season. Chelsea has given me security. I am rediscovering
myself in football terms. I feel important, I wouldn't say as the guiding
captain but almost.
"It's just that I play further back and that makes me feel more active in
games and hence, I enjoy myself much more.
"I touch the ball 90 to 100 times per game and I missed that. I hope I can
win everything with Chelsea but I don't want the Champions League to become
an obsession."
Once his playing career is over, the World Cup winner with Spain has designs
on coaching.
"I'm learning from the best of the best and I feel very fortunate," he said.
"I think I have the personality to become a coach but we shall see.
"I feel I will end up coaching one day."
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