Spanish midfielder Cesc insists Blues' Champions League Last-16 first-leg clash with Barcelona massive for the players and English football
Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas spent three silverware-filled seasons with Barcelona before signing for the Blues. Pic/ Getty images
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Cesc Fabregas has said that Chelsea's Champions League clash with Barcelona at Stamford Bridge tonight is about much more than any personal reunion. The Spaniard started his footballing journey in the youth system at Camp Nou, as well as returning to Catalonia to spend three silverware filled seasons in their first team between 2011 and 2014.
No emotions
He still has plenty of friends at the club from his time there, but the midfielder insists he will not have any problems putting his emotions to one side. "It's a big game for everyone I think, for the whole club, and I think for English football. This is as big as it can get," Fabregas was quoted saying by the club's official website. "It's always great to welcome these fantastic teams in European football. It's a massive night for the players, for the club and for English football in general. "Of course, it's my hometown, it's the club I supported for all my life, but once you step on the pitch it just goes away. I did it before with Arsenal. I don't try, it just happens naturally. You want to do well for your club and that's it."
Friendship on hold
And obviously, any friendships with his former teammates with Barcelona will be on hold for the 180 minutes of our two-legged tie, despite in some cases going all the way back to his childhood. "I have big friends, friends that I played with since I was 13. "I speak to some of them nearly every day, even when I don't play against them, but it doesn't necessarily have to be about football. "Probably now the contact is a bit less, probably unconsciously because of the game coming up."
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