FAB: I FEEL INVINCIBLE
Gunners upbringing means I’ve no fear
CHELSEA’S mission to get Champions League football will have huge consequences but Cesc Fabregas insists he has no nerves.
The Spanish midfield star has pledged to pass on his experience to his younger team-mates as Chelsea try to overhaul fourthplaced Spurs.
Fabregas scored the only goal to keep up the pressure on their London rivals who host Watford tonight.
The ex-arsenal youngster says growing up as part of the Gunners’ Invincibles in the 2003/2004 season has armed him with a no-fear mentality.
Fabregas, 30, explained: “I was very lucky to start with that winning Invincible team and that helped me a lot. I remember my first day, my first training with the first team, and you don’t feel that fear anymore.
“I have the hunger and the passion to keep playing but in a good way, not in a nervous way.
“When I started I was lucky enough to be surrounded by fantastic players full of experience and that helped me a lot. I think that’s important.
“You always wonder when you are young,when everyone is looking at you, ‘Did I do well? Did I do enough to prove myself ?’
“It can cause a little bit of mental doubt. We need to be there for them, that’s 100 per cent sure.”
Fabregas took his goal clinically with his left foot in the fourth minute for his 50th strike in the Premier League.
He thrived in a midfield three which allowed him to get forward more.
But both Fabregas and boss Antonio Conte were unhappy the FA Cup finalists were left hanging on at the end for a third straight League win.
Fabregas added: “We have been winning games, not comfortably, but we have been winning which is the most important thing.
“The last 10 minutes they could have scored and I think we have to dig in in certain moments and we are ready to do that.”
Conte (left) was also frustrated but encouraged by the intelligent, devastating interplay between Eden Hazard and Olivier Giroud up front.
They were a huge threat until being withdrawn in the final minutes as Chelsea tried to hang on and wind the clock down.
Conte believes the blossoming rapport between Hazard and Giroud will be vital in the run-in with Chelsea realistically needing maximum points from their remaining three games.
Conte , whose side host Liverpool next, said: “We were very dangerous offensively with Hazard and Giroud and the penetration of our midfield.
“I think they played a really good game and showed a good link between them.
“If today we hadn’t got three points I think the situation for Champions League was done.
“For sure the only way to put a bit of pressure on these teams that stay ahead of us is to win.
“The situation is not in our hands about a place in the Champions League.
“But if we want to apply a bit of pressure and to keep the hope alive to take a place in the Champions League we have to try to get three points in every game.”