Fabregas is yet to start in the Premier League under Conte, with his only other start in the EFL Cup win over Bristol City last month, with Nemanja Matic, N’Golo Kante and Oscar preferred.
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It took just two minutes of extra-time for Fabregas to score the first of his brace, with the playmaker producing a fine controlled effort after a cheeky back-heel from Eden Hazard.
Ahead of the draw for the last 16 of the EFL Cup, Chelsea were 5/1 joint favourites with Liverpool to lift the trophy after their excellent comeback at Leicester in midweek.
“I’m very clear with my players: when a player deserves to play, I put him in the team”.
“Hopefully this will shut [up] a few journalists who are talking rubbish all the time”.
“I think that Arsene Wenger is doing a good job, but it’s normal that, when every single year you fight for the title, you want to win”, said Conte.
Fabregas returned to the Premier League in 2014 as the playmaker completed a £27m move to Arsenal’s bitter London rivals Chelsea.
“Cesc is Chelsea’s player, I am happy about him, for his attitude and his behaviour during training sessions”, the ex-Juventus coach told a post-match news conference.
The Dutch legend believes Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Cesc Fabregas should be given a chance in the Chelsea team against Arsenal.
“It is fantastic if someone is able to stay for 20 years in the same club”, added Conte. “I don’t know if I’ll play; the manager waits until right before the game”.
“They showed the will to win – the will to go through to the next round. There is the possibility that he can start tomorrow (Saturday) but I still have one more day to decide my lineup”.
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The Spaniard has surely given Conte something to think about for the upcoming games. We like him very much, he’s a great coach, very hard and he says the things very clear. “It’s normal when you are in a team like Chelsea to have this problem, but I don’t see any problem in this situation”.
