My first day here I knew I’d joined a team full of WINNERS

AS the full complement of Chelsea players assembled for the start of the Premier League season, Cesc Fabregas sensed that the squad he had joined was capable of something special this season.

As he looked around, he saw arch-competitors and proven winners on the training ground at Cobham.

There were seasoned warriors like John Terry, Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanovic (below, celebrating with Nemanja Matic) and Didier Drogba.

And there were talented newcomers such as Diego Costa, Matic, Filipe Luis – and, of course, himself.

“When did I think we could be successful this season? From day one,” said the midfield star, signed from Barcelona for £33million and who celebrates s his 28th birthday tomorrow.

By then, he should have a Premier League title winner’ss medal – and he has played no small part in Chelsea’s triumphant season that already has the Capital One Cup on display at Stamford Bridge.

His midfield link with Matic tic has been crucial, but it is the all-round ability in the squad that has made such an impression on Fabregas.

“Once we all met at the beginning of the season and we started training with each other, we knew we had a great squad,” said Fabregas.

“We also played well at the start and we were also getting to know each other better and better. We had a strong team and a strong squad.”

It was a significant decision for Fabregas to move to Chelsea. But, once he met manager Jose Mourinho and had been given assurances about the role he would play, he was sold on the idea.

He knew about life in the capital from his time at Arsenal, where he had spent his formative years.

“I knew the city, I knew the league,” said Fabregas. “And I am a very open-minded guy. I can adapt to wherever I am and whatever the situation is. “

His form is such that he was a genuine competitor to Eden Hazard for the Premier League’s best player. “The best of my career? Maybe,” he said. “Maybe the experience and the quality have all come together. I know myself much better.

“I am playing in a position that I like a lot. I feel much more important to the team. It all comes together and I won’t deny that I have enjoyed this season.

“I am enjoying my football and I am comfortable because there is a manager who allows me to play the way I want.

“You have no fear because you have the confidence of the manager. Your team see you as an important person on the pitch and in the dressing room.”

Comfortable, he may be. In the comfort zone, he is not. Fabregas is aware of

the all- conquering younger teams at Chelsea who have reigned supreme in domestic and European football.

“There is a new team and generation coming up and we have to stick together as long as we can. Hopefully, this is the start for Chelsea, not the finish.”

And in his sights now is glory in the Champions League, a competition in which Chelsea were eliminated by PSG.

“We want to go one step forward next year,” he said. “We have to push for that JULIAN SPERONI wears the scars of a man that never shirks a challenge.

So, it will take more than the sight of Eden Hazard and Didier Drogba to strike fear into the Crystal Palace goalkeeper today.

The Eagles No.1 (left) was sporting a huge bruise on his and adjust one or two things if we are to achieve that. We have seen that in England we can win everything. In Europe, it changes. But we are not far away.”

He then proceeded to pay his current team a huge compliment. “This is as good a team as I have played in,” he added.

“Definitely. We have a strong mentality and character and they are all winners and competitors. The dressing room spirit is fantastic.

“John Terry is a great leader, but upper arm this week. And when the subject of injuries cropped up, he was quick to show off war wounds that have occurred in the line of fire – including a scar close to his eye and a finger that he can no longer straighten.

He will attempt to stop Chelsea from clinching the title today, and Speroni said: “When you are a everyone, such as Ivanovic and Petr Cech, all the players who have been there a long time, they help a lot.

“And there are a lot of young players, such as Oscar and Willian, who are coming of age and starting to compete well. “

Come July, Fabregas and his wife are expecting their second child.

Success on the pitch, domestic happiness away from football.

All in all, 2015 has the makings of a memorable year for Cesc Fabregas. goalkeeper the job is to put your body on the line for your team. We get no sympathy. You have to go for every ball and can never hold back.

“I got the bruise on my arm from a collision with a Hull player last weekend. He kicked me and was asking for a penalty! I have a scar next to my eye from when I was also kicked in a Championship game at Southampton about five years ago. If it had been one centimetre the other way I could have been blinded.

“This is a big game against Chelsea, but, as a player, you don’t have fear. Does anything scare me?

“Maybe spiders. But don’t let Chelsea players know that – they may bring one.”