Cesc Shows His Class  (Sky Sports)

Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas provided a reminder of his class in Spain's 2-0 win over England in Alicante, writes Nick Wright.

Spain's friendly victory over England on Friday night provided plenty of intrigue for Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. On the one hand, there was another off-colour display from his misfiring striker Diego Costa, but on the other there was an outstanding performance from Cesc Fabregas, who was back to his influential best to orchestrate England's downfall.

The midfielder chose a good moment to reproduce his best form. Fabregas has been one of Chelsea's most disappointing players in their dreadful start to the campaign, with diminishing creative influence and uncharacteristic sloppiness blighting his performances. Mourinho's patience ran out when he dropped the Spaniard for Chelsea's last two Premier League games against Liverpool and Stoke, and Fabregas has even been forced to deny rumours that he has led a dressing room revolt.

"Obviously it is a lie," he told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope earlier this week. "I backed him in a very difficult time. My relationship with Mourinho is good, as always, but when things aren't going well people are always looking for something. If you play well you are the first to have the finger pointed at you when things are going badly. When things go well you are the best and when things go wrong you are finished, you are useless."

Fabregas' performance on Friday night in Alicante suggested rumours of his demise have been rather exaggerated. The Spaniard shook off his Chelsea lethargy and dominated England's midfield. His headline contribution was the chipped assist for Mario Gaspar's stunning opening goal, but there was plenty more to enjoy about his display.

Cesc Fabregas v England

Total Rank
Touches 119 1st
Successful passes 87 1st
Chances created 3 2nd
Assists 1 1st
Tackles 6 1st

Fabregas' average number of passes per game has fallen from 85 to 67 in the Premier League this season despite Chelsea actually averaging more possession than last season overall, but he was far more involved against England. He was central to everything Spain did at the Estadio Jose Rico Perez. He had more touches than anyone else on the pitch with 119, and he attempted more than twice as many passes as any England player, with 87 out of 99 finding a team-mate.

This was the same Fabregas who started last season in such scintillating form for Chelsea, and he would have added to his single assist had his team-mates been more clinical. One cross found Costa in space in the box in the first half but the striker fired wastefully wide, and later there was a defence-splitting pass for Juan Mata who was denied by the onrushing Joe Hart. Of the 33 players who featured in the game, only Nolito created more scoring chances than Fabregas.

And it wasn't just with the ball at his feet that Fabregas impressed. Despite playing in a more advanced role than he is used to at Chelsea, he completed more tackles (six) than any other player, and twice as many as anyone in an England shirt. The former Arsenal man worked tirelessly throughout and his desire was evident when he beat the physically imposing Eric Dier in a crucial aerial duel seconds before Santi Cazorla doubled Spain's lead.

Mourinho has criticised some of his Chelsea players for failing to embrace their defensive and tactical responsibilities in recent weeks, so Fabregas' industrious display against England will have come as a boost. The playmaker appeared to have rediscovered his bite, and Mourinho will be hoping for more of the same when Chelsea try to kick-start their Premier League campaign against Norwich next Saturday.

But in order to understand Fabregas' much-improved performance for Spain, it is important to acknowledge Sergio Busquet's influence in the holding role. The Barcelona man provided a perfect platform for Spain's more attack-minded midfielders, completing every one of his 54 passes, snuffing out danger in front of their back four and restricting England's space in dangerous areas.

It was the kind of performance Nemanja Matic has been unable to produce for Chelsea this season. Fabregas cannot be absolved of blame for his own dip in form, but he has not been helped by the Serb's struggles further back. Indeed, even with Ramires deployed alongside Matic and Fabregas pushed further forward, Chelsea simply haven't been able to tighten things up.

But while the Blues need collective improvement to turn their season around, their task will be made considerably easier if Fabregas returns from international duty with a spring in his step. Friday night was a timely reminder of just how difficult it is to stop him at his best.