Cesc Fabregas meets up with old Barcelona pals including Lionel Messi after Chelsea draw
Spaniard enjoyed a chummy reunion at Stamford Bridge as he chatted to goalscorer Messi and Luis Suarez
CHELSEA star Cesc Fabregas enjoyed a reunion with former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez last night.
The Spaniard - who moved to Stamford Bridge from Barca in 2014 - started in the Blues' 1-1 draw.
He admitted he was speaking less to his mates with the Euro showdown on the horizon, saying: “I speak to some of them nearly every day. Probably now, we speak less — maybe because of the game.”
But after the clash he caught up with Messi and Suarez in the tunnel.
Fabregas went on holiday with the pair in Ibiza last summer and they are clearly still close despite their on-field rivalry.
The playmaker took on Barca for the first time since his move and was replaced by Danny Drinkwater after Messi cancelled out Willian's strike.
Chelsea were unfortunate not to come away with victory after crashing the ball against the visitors' post twice.
But Fabregas has told his team-mates what they need to do to have a chance at the Nou Camp.
Speaking to BT Sport, he said: "Such a shame, really. I thought we were very good.
MESSI WEEKEND Lionel Messi on holiday in Ibiza with Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas, Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez and their Wags and families
"We went with a game plan and we executed it really, really well. They had a few chances - obviously they are one of the best teams in the world.
"But I think we were compact, solid, we played as a team, we created many chances. Willian could have scored easily a hat-trick today if it was another day. Overall, fantastic performance. In the end, a shame.
"We go home today thinking that we completed good work, competed very well - we should be proud of that - but at the same we are also sad. I think 1-0, even 2-0 if we would have gone up, would have been a fantastic result.
"Now you give them a big chance because at the Camp Nou they are very strong but it is still open. We are positive. We have seen today that we can compete.
"At the Camp Nou we have to play another excellent game to go through."