MX23RW : Friday, November 30 18:03:51
Dec 2, 2018 at 12pm UK at ​Stamford Bridge
Chelsea
vs.
Fulham

Fabregas expects to stay at Chelsea for rest of the season

Fabregas expects to stay at Chelsea for rest of the season
© Reuters
The 32-year-old can sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from January 1.

Cesc Fabregas expects to stay at Chelsea for the rest of the season, when the Spain playmaker will be available to leave on a free transfer.

The 32-year-old former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder's current contract expires at the end of the season and he is permitted to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January 1, which would allow him to move in the summer.

AC Milan are among the clubs to have been linked with Fabregas, who joined Chelsea in June 2014 from Barca on a five-year contract.

Cesc Fabregas has enjoyed a successful period at Chelsea
Cesc Fabregas has enjoyed a successful period at Chelsea (David Davies/PA)

"No, I haven't spoken to anyone," said Fabregas, when asked about his future following Thursday's 4-0 Europa League win over PAOK of Greece.

"Obviously in January I can sign (a pre-contract agreement) with whoever I want and probably this will attract many clubs.

"But so far, from what I can say right now, yes I will stay here until the end of the season.

"I play at Stamford Bridge, I'm happy. That's the most important thing. But of course every player wants to play more."

Fabregas, a World Cup winner with Spain in 2010, was a key component of Jose Mourinho's title-winning team in 2014-15, but has become more of a peripheral figure since.

Jorginho is Maurizio Sarri's first choice as Chelsea playmaker
Jorginho is Maurizio Sarri's first choice as Chelsea playmaker (Adam Davy/PA)

The arrival of Jorginho as Maurizio Sarri's midfield fulcrum has limited Fabregas' Premier League opportunities to just three substitute appearances so far this season.

Fabregas knows he is second-fiddle to Jorginho, who followed Sarri from Napoli, but believes he can play elsewhere in the Italian's chosen 4-3-3 formation.

Fabregas added: "I can give more in other positions. Maybe at the moment, he still doesn't see it.

"We have had a chat about it and maybe in the future it will start to happen. But at the moment it is what it is and you just have to take it."

Sarri insisted the PAOK performance, which saw Olivier Giroud score twice, with 18-year-old Callum Hudson-Odoi and Alvaro Morata also on target, would not change his thinking for the Premier League.

But Fabregas expects to feature more often in December, when Chelsea have 10 matches.

Sunday's clash with Fulham is the first of three Premier League games in a week, with Wednesday's match at Wolves and next Saturday's game against Manchester City following.

"I already know which games I will play and I am ready for it," Fabregas added.

"I have spoken to the coach. He has been straightforward with me and I need to be ready for when the opportunity comes. That's it."

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Jorginho's impact has been lessened of late by opponents paying him particular attention and Chelsea lost their first competitive game of the season, after 18 matches unbeaten, last Saturday against Tottenham.

Fabregas said: "It's been difficult for him (Jorginho) because opponents know how to defend against this.

"If you want to put in a man-marking player, this is the easiest player to mark.

"Maybe whether he plays, or I play, sometimes we have to find a solution, new movement, be quicker with the ball.

"We know what we have to do, we know what the coach wants from us, we just have to keep going."


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Raheem Sterling celebrates his goal for Manchester City against West Ham United on November 24, 2018
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City1311204053535
2Liverpool1310302652133
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs13100323111230
4Chelsea1384128111728
5Arsenal1383228161227
6Everton136432015522
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd136342021-121
8Bournemouth136252218420
9Watford136251717020
10Leicester CityLeicester135351817118
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves134451215-316
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton134361419-515
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle133371116-512
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham133371422-812
15Huddersfield TownHuddersfield13247822-1410
16Crystal Palace13238817-99
17Burnley132381327-149
18Southampton131571024-148
19Cardiff CityCardiff132291126-158
20Fulham132291433-198

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