Fabregas ‘changed Chelsea’s profile’

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Jose Mourinho says Cesc Fabregas has changed Chelsea’s “profile” as a team but the Blues boss never thought he would get the chance to sign the former Arsenal midfielder.

Fabregas joined in the summer and has been instrumental in the success so far, helping Chelsea win the Capital One Cup, climb to the top of the Premier League, and make the last 16 of the Champions League.

Mourinho, talking before Chelsea face Paris St-Germain in Wednesday’s last-16 Champions League second-leg tie at Stamford Bridge, said: “I never felt he could work with me because when I was with Chelsea and Real Madrid he was with a rival [Arsenal and Barcelona].

“It was quite unexpected for me that he wanted to come to England and to Chelsea, but fantastic.

“It changed the profile of our our team since his arrival. We work hard for that and also with the contribution of other players.

“But we were waiting for a player with his characteristics to change our profile of play and we are so a happy with the way he has adapted to us.

“And I think we can also feel his happiness playing for us – which is always a question mark when a player has emotional connections with a rival club. But I think he went over that, clearly, and he is happy to be with us.”

Chelsea welcome Nemanja Matic back for tonight’s game but are still without the injured John Mikel Obi.

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