Fabregas: Mourinho is magic

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s stronger winning mentality has made him a more successful manager than Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger, says Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas – and the Blues midfielder should have a good idea.

Fabregas played under Wenger at Arsenal for eight years, but has only won his first ever English league championship medal when The Blues beat Crystal Palace 1-0 on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.

The midfielder was in exciting mood after playing a major role in bringing that title back to Stamford Bridge. But he said Mourinho was the man who should take most credit.

Asked if he felt the Chelsea boss had a touch of magic, the Spaniard said: “Yes 100 percent.”

He knows how to manage a team, he knows how to get the best out of you, and that’s what you want from a manager.

“A manager that can motivate a player every three days when you play 60 games a season, it is not easy. Trust me.”

“Everyone thinks that we have a big squad, but we don’t, 22 players, and some of them are from the academy, and under 21s. So it’s not easy. He actually is doing a fantastic job.”

He was then asked more about the Portuguese coach’s methods that set him aside from mere mortals, the midfielder said: “He just loves winning.

I’m not just saying other managers I have played under don’t, but he has some edge that goes above anyone else I have ever been with.

“The mentality shows every single training session, or game. I now understand why he has won what he has won in his career.”

Mourinho has also given Fabregas a new lease of life, the player revealed. “He just makes me feel very important within the team.”

He allows me to play the way I feel, and that is very important for a player for the confidence.

“He sticks to me in midfield and the positive note from me is that I can play in deep midfield, I can play as a number 10, I can play 4-3-3.”

“That maybe helps, but he still makes me feel things that I didn’t feel for a while. To feel important, to play every game, sometimes he allows me to give speeches. I feel like he trusts me, and that is very important for your confidence and the team.”

Chelsea play their first match as 2015 Premier League champions at the Bridge against Liverpool on Sunday.