Jose Mourinho believes Cesc Fabregas can have both Chelsea and
Arsenal in his heart as the midfielder prepares to face his former side.
Fabregas signed for Chelsea after three years at Barcelona, despite a
rumoured clause which gave the first option to Arsenal, where he played
from 2003 to 2011, making 303 appearances and scoring 57 goals under
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.
The 27-year-old Spain playmaker has thrived on his Premier League
return and next plays against Arsenal in Sunday's contest between the
only remaining unbeaten teams in the league.
"I think he loves Chelsea already,'' Blues boss Mourinho said. "He's
so happy: the way he plays, the way he's a member of the squad, the way
he lives in this little blue village.
"It is like he's (been) here for a long time. If you ask him now if
he regrets the move, I'm sure he'd say no. If you ask him if he'd choose
a different option, he'd say no. And if you ask him where he thinks
he'll be in five years' time, he will say Chelsea.
"He is Chelsea. He is completely committed to Chelsea. And he likes
Chelsea very, very much. One thing is that and another thing is to
forget the past. I'm happy he doesn't forget the past.''
Mourinho is adamant Fabregas remembers fondly the club he joined aged 16.
The Portuguese added: "I wouldn't be happy if he came here saying he
didn't care about Arsenal. Many times, when (players) say that, it's not
true. If it's true, it's also not good. He'll never lose his respect
and his connection with a club where he arrived as a kid and left as a
top player.
"He doesn't forget Arsenal, he doesn't forget the time he spent
there, he doesn't forget the contribution Arsenal made in his fantastic
career, and that deserves a place in his memory and his heart. For me,
the approach is correct.
"The fact he's giving everything to Chelsea with such professionalism and enthusiasm is exactly what we want of him.''
During his first spell at Chelsea and his time at Real Madrid, Mourinho never imagined Fabregas would come under his charge.
"I was at Chelsea, he was at Arsenal -- a rival,'' Mourinho said. "I
was at Real, he was at Barcelona - a rival. It never looked possible
that he would become my player. I never thought about it.''
When the possibility arose, Mourinho moved swiftly for a player with
supreme talents. He promised Fabregas he would be the central figure in
the team and not one on the periphery, like he was at times in
Barcelona, where he played on the wings and as a 'false nine' forward
"I wanted him because I know the player he is,'' Mourinho added. "And
I know he was good for the philosophy we wanted for the team.
"I knew that he's one of not many players who can play as a No. 8 or a
No. 10, so gives me possibilities to play him in both positions and
build a midfield knowing that.
"This, plus the fact that he was made in England and played for so
many years in English football. That's a plus. He doesn't need that
adaptation. He comes back 'home'. We knew he was the perfect for us. We
tried. We tried hard, and we got (him).''
Mourinho is not concerned whether Fabregas celebrates scoring against
the Gunners, pointing to his own inner feeling of happiness when his
Inter Milan side beat Chelsea in the Champions League in 2010.
"He should score, celebrate or not -- I don't care,'' Mourinho said.
"When my team scored against Chelsea and my team did three times, two in
Milan and one at Stamford Bridge, I didn't celebrate. I was happy, you
can't imagine how happy I was.
"Not celebrating is nice. Show some respect.''
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