Fabregas planning to stay at Chelsea
Cesc Fabregas has told Sky Sports he plans to stay at Chelsea next season.
The Spaniard has not been a first-team regular under Blues boss Antonio Conte, prompting speculation about his future.
He was tipped to leave Stamford Bridge during the last two transfer windows amid reports of interest from several Italian and Spanish clubs.
The same clubs are being linked with Fabregas, 29, ahead of the summer window, but he says he believes he will remain in west London.
“One hundred per cent. I am not thinking about anything else than challenging myself here,” he said.
“From the beginning it has been a big challenge and there are always rumours, you cannot stop that, but I don’t even care what people say. Not for one second did I want to leave.
“Sometimes it’s so easy, you don’t play two games, you get frustrated and upset and want to move somewhere else, but for me it’s the opposite; I want to challenge myself.
“I know in my brain what I can do and if I am better than others or not. I know what I can bring to this team and by improving and listening to the manager and what he wants and doesn’t want, I know myself what I can give.
“I have been proving myself every time I have had a chance and I will not stop until I play every game which is what I want.”
Fabregas has been largely kept out of the team by Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante, who have been in excellent form this season.
But the former Arsenal man believes he has shown he can still make a positive contribution when called upon.
“It’s been shown in many games this year, even when I have come on for five minutes, I have done something to make a change in the team,” he said.
“The most important thing is when you have the chance you take it and I think I have done that throughout the season. It’s a challenge to be ready every time the coach needs you and then change his mind and trust you more and make it into the team.
“You always have to compete against players. Sometimes you are on the pitch and have to compete with players so they don’t overtake you. This season it has been the other way around, I have had to compete more in training or in the little minutes I had to prove myself to try to be in the starting XI.
“Now I am playing much more than at the start of the season and hopefully I am changing the manager’s mind a little bit and can get many more starts.”
