Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas admits he feels like a kid trying to force his way into Antonio Conte’s team
Spaniard is yet to start a Premier League game this season but is determined to prove himself to new Blues boss
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CESC FABREGAS is a boy again in his battle to win over Antonio Conte.
It’s not the glittering range of World Cup, European Championship and Premier League medals driving him on.
Instead it’s the desperation to prove himself a man as a teenager in Arsenal’s Academy 13 years ago that is the surprise inspiration.
Two goals in Chelsea’s epic comeback win over Leicester on Tuesday night confirms Fabregas is not finished yet even though failing to start a Premier League match would send a clear message to some players.
He said: “It’s a new situation for me in my career after 13 years of basically playing everything for my club and national team.
“And it’s been tough. I’m not going to deny it but the last thing I will do is complain or put my hands up and give in.
“Something from inside is coming out stronger than ever and I just feel like a little boy in training trying to win my spot back as I used to do at Arsenal when I was 16.
“Hopefully I will achieve it again. After my family football is everything to me. It always has been.
“It’s a new situation but you have to accept it, you have to be professional, you have to keep your attitude. All my team-mates deserve respect. My coach deserves respect because I know he wants to win and if he doesn’t play me there is always a reason.
“Hopefully I can open his eyes and make him see that I deserve to play.
“After 13 years I know myself very, very well. I am in a moment of my career where I feel very mature. I know physically what I can give. I know when I have to press and I choose much better my game overall.
“I just want to play and give my all and hopefully this will come soon.
“I always give my everything. Always. You can have those days when you’re not at your best but I always try my best. I’ve been training very hard.
“I’m not going to deny I want to play every single minute. It’s what I work for but the coach chooses the 11 he thinks is best suited to win the game.
“And that’s it. Wherever I am I will support the team. Inside, outside and when my time comes I will try to perform as I have been doing over the last few weeks.”
Fabregas now has three days to prove himself all over again as Conte has given no assurances that the highly-decorated Spaniard has played his way into the team for Saturday’s clash with Arsenal.
Fabregas said: “It’s a special fixture because I’ve lived moments there that I’ve never lived in my career. It’s a very special place for me and that’s it.
“No matter what I hear or what they say to me, Arsenal will always be a fantastic, special club in my heart. They gave me absolutely everything and I will repeat it until I die, no matter what they will always be in my heart.”
Rusty Fabregas admits extra time took it out of him after being mothballed this season.
He said: “I feel a bit tired, I didn’t play a proper game for a long time, so a bit tired but happy.
“I don’t think I’ve scored two goals for Chelsea so it’s probably over two years ago since I did, at Barcelona.
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“The coach speaks a lot. He spoke to me a few times as well. He wants the midfielders to be very complete. To be physically strong. We are training very hard for it.
“If you have to analyse me, maybe I’m a bit more the playmaker, creative going forward and he wants me to be a little bit more stable and compact in defence.
“I know what I can do.
“It was vital to win at Leicester. Lose and people start asking questions and doubting what you’re doing. If you’re doing the correct thing or not.
“So it was very, very important, a big statement as well by going 2-0 down against the champions and it was a very positive performance.”
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