Jose Mourinho has taken a cheeky swipe at Arsenal by claiming Cesc Fabregas opted to join Chelsea instead of return to his former club as he was ‘looking for titles’.
The Spaniard, who captained the Gunners in an eight-year spell, left fans of the north London club heartbroken when he moved to Chelsea last summer after three years at Barcelona.
Fabregas will return to the Emirates this Sunday for the first time since his departure in 2011 with Chelsea on the brink of Premier League title success.
The Blues are 10 points clear of the Gunners and a win for the visitors this weekend would mean three more points would secure the title, points which could come next Wednesday at Leicester.
And Mourinho, whose side have already won the League Cup this season, said the prospect of major success is what prompted Fabregas to move to Stamford Bridge.
"I know why he chose Chelsea," said the Portuguese. "I don't know why he didn't choose Arsenal.
"I can't speak about his time at Arsenal, the decision that made him leave, the decision that stopped him going back. I don't know if it was the manager's (Arsene Wenger's) or if it was his decision. I really don't know.
"I just know that we promised him we'd build a team very adapted to his style of play. That he was going to be an important player in our project.
"And that, normally, good projects always end with titles. He was looking for that. That's all I can say."
Fabregas is bracing himself for a hostile reception from Arsenal fans, but Mourinho insists that would be underserved given the service he gave the club.
The 27-year-old made more than 300 appearances for the Gunners, and the Blues boss said: "Frank Lampard played at Stamford Bridge (with Manchester City) without any kind of problem and with a good reception. I don't see a reason for Fabregas not to have the same at the Emirates.
"But, if he has some bad reactions, I think he's one of the players who is more than ready.
"He played in Barcelona with an Arsenal shirt. Why can't he play at the Emirates with a Chelsea shirt? I don't see a problem."
Fabregas and Diego Costa, who also joined last summer, have been key to Chelsea's title charge, with the playmaker laying on assists for the striker.
Costa could be fit for Sunday's match and displace Didier Drogba in the starting XI, while Loic Remy (calf) is definitely out.
"Didier for sure is good, is fine. Remy, not for sure. And Diego, let's make a decision tomorrow," Mourinho, said.
Dominic Solanke is in reserve, having missed Chelsea's under-21 team match on Thursday, and will be on the substitutes' bench as back-up to Drogba if Costa is not fit.
The Spaniard, who captained the Gunners in an eight-year spell, left fans of the north London club heartbroken when he moved to Chelsea last summer after three years at Barcelona.
Fabregas will return to the Emirates this Sunday for the first time since his departure in 2011 with Chelsea on the brink of Premier League title success.
The Blues are 10 points clear of the Gunners and a win for the visitors this weekend would mean three more points would secure the title, points which could come next Wednesday at Leicester.
And Mourinho, whose side have already won the League Cup this season, said the prospect of major success is what prompted Fabregas to move to Stamford Bridge.
"I know why he chose Chelsea," said the Portuguese. "I don't know why he didn't choose Arsenal.
"I can't speak about his time at Arsenal, the decision that made him leave, the decision that stopped him going back. I don't know if it was the manager's (Arsene Wenger's) or if it was his decision. I really don't know.
"I just know that we promised him we'd build a team very adapted to his style of play. That he was going to be an important player in our project.
"And that, normally, good projects always end with titles. He was looking for that. That's all I can say."
Fabregas is bracing himself for a hostile reception from Arsenal fans, but Mourinho insists that would be underserved given the service he gave the club.
The 27-year-old made more than 300 appearances for the Gunners, and the Blues boss said: "Frank Lampard played at Stamford Bridge (with Manchester City) without any kind of problem and with a good reception. I don't see a reason for Fabregas not to have the same at the Emirates.
"But, if he has some bad reactions, I think he's one of the players who is more than ready.
"He played in Barcelona with an Arsenal shirt. Why can't he play at the Emirates with a Chelsea shirt? I don't see a problem."
Fabregas and Diego Costa, who also joined last summer, have been key to Chelsea's title charge, with the playmaker laying on assists for the striker.
Costa could be fit for Sunday's match and displace Didier Drogba in the starting XI, while Loic Remy (calf) is definitely out.
"Didier for sure is good, is fine. Remy, not for sure. And Diego, let's make a decision tomorrow," Mourinho, said.
Dominic Solanke is in reserve, having missed Chelsea's under-21 team match on Thursday, and will be on the substitutes' bench as back-up to Drogba if Costa is not fit.
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