‘ I don’t fear fans gunning for me’
CESC FABREGAS has told Arsenal fans: bring on the boos.
The former Gunners skipper takes on Arsene Wenger’s side in the Community Shield on Sunday desperate to help Chelsea roar out of the blocks this season. Fabregas, who spent eight years in north London, received a
very mixed reception on his fi rst return to the Emirates last April and knows there will be more of the same at Wembley.
But the 28- year- old believes nothing will destroy his Arsenal memories.
“Whatever it is, it is,” he said. “The love I have for that club will never change whatever happens and what is the most important are the memories I have with me from them.
“The rest doesn’t matter. I have great memories, love and respect for the club. You will never hear anything bad from me about them.
“Of course, it is not the most important game but we want to win. It is a big game, a London derby at Wembley in front of all the fans. We are not worried that they might be fresher than us – they started 10 days before us – but we are competitors, we will want to win .”
Jose Mourinho sold full- back Filipe Luis back to Atletico Madrid yesterday just a year after signing him for £ 16m, with Brazilian Alex Telles expected to sign for £ 8m from Galatasaray as a replacement. However, both he and opposite number Wenger have been comparatively quiet in the transfer market this summer.
Fabregas knows the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool are all busting a gut to rip the Premier League title from Chelsea’s grasp.
The Blues have seen only Radamel Falcao and Petr Cech’s replacement Asmir Begovic arrive at Stamford Bridge. Yet the Spain star is not worried. “It’s normal. They all want to compete and it will be very diffi cult to retain the Premier League,” he said.
“There are four or fi ve teams who can win it. We know we will have to fi ght again. People will say United, City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea – there will always be divided opinions.
“What we have to do is to maintain the levels of last season . It has been important for us to get started again. We know we are one of the teams who started later than others, but the method we use for training is the right one to try and compete all season.
“We have a good squad – let’s see if a few players come in but we are happy with what we have .”
Mourinho was delighted with Colombian Falcao after he made his Chelsea debut on Saturday with a 20- minute run- out against Paris Saint- Germain in Charlotte, and Fabregas believes the former United striker, who is on loan from Monaco, will be a hit at Stamford Bridge.
He said: “Falcao has only been with us for a few days and those fi rst days are always the best. You are still fresh.
“After three weeks of pre- season is when you start feeling your best. So we expect a lot from Falcao. His time in Spain was unbelievable and after that the injury made him drop a little bit but I expect a lot from him.
“He’s a top player. What I am talking about is the protection of the ball with his back to goal, the link- up play, the movement behind defenders, the way he fi ghts, all of these things. He lacked confi dence at United but hopefully he can get everything back now he is with Chelsea.”
Begovic, Chelsea’s other new arrival, cannot wait to get cracking, even if he is set to spend most of the season on the bench as cover for Thibaut Courtois .