Fabregas serves a
Chelsea midfielder makes an impact in 3-1 win over Burnley
BURNLEY: Cesc Fabregas provided a swift demonstration of why Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was so keen to bring him back to the Premier League as he orchestrated Monday’s 3-1 season-opening win at Burnley in commanding fashion.
At Turf Moor, Fabregas showed that he will be at the heart of Chelsea’s title bid — dictating the tempo, providing pinpoint passes and linking up superbly with Eden Hazard and Andre Schuerrle in support of new forward Diego Costa.
For a 30-minute spell in the opening half, Chelsea responded to falling a goal down to Burnley by producing a display of passing and movement that provided early justification for their status as title favourites.
While Mourinho was impressed with Fabregas’s contribution, he was far from surprised at the quality the 27-year-old brought. “When players are your first choice it is very difficult that you make a mistake and Fabregas was our first choice for that position,” Mourinho told reporters.
“I know clearly the player that he is because we were so many years in the same league, in England and in Spain. I know him so, so well, so I knew exactly what he would bring to my team,” the Portuguese added.
What may bring the best out of Fabregas is the role he has been handed at Chelsea — clearly the central midfield general, with a license to go forward but a responsibility to keep the entire unit ticking.
“In Barcelona, he was playing all over,” Mourinho said.
“Number nine, fake number nine, number ten, winger, in so many positions but he knows better than me — what is his position.
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“So he is giving exactly what we need, which is that stability and quick-thinking in midfield, the right decision, the right intensity,” Mourinho added.
In a fiery atmosphere, the home side took a surprise lead in the 14th minute with a superb drive from Scott Arfield after a fine pull back from Matt Taylor.
But Chelsea quickly got back on level terms, three minutes later, with Diego Costa, a close season signing from Atletico Madrid, scoring on his Premier League debut — firing in after a Branislav Ivanovic cross-shot had come out off the post. Within four minutes, Fabregas provided a beautiful first time pass to Andre Schurrle who confidently drove home.
Burnley looked shell-shocked and their manager Sean Dyche will be disappointed with the defending for Chelsea’s third as Ivanovic was unchallenged as he slotted in a Fabregas corner in the 34th minute.