Things have been tough under Conte - Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas says he has found life "tough" under new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.


The midfielder scored twice in extra time as Chelsea came from 2-0 down to beat Leicester 4-2 in the EFL Cup third round on Tuesday.

But he is yet to start a Premier League game this season, with his only two starts coming in the cup, against Bristol Rovers and the Foxes.

"It's a new situation for me in my career after 13 years of basically playing all the time for my club and national team," he said.

"And it's been tough - I'm not going to deny it. But the last thing I will do is complain or put my hands up and give in.

"Something from inside is coming out stronger than ever and I just feel like a little boy in training trying to win my spot back as I used to do at Arsenal when I was 16. Hopefully, I will achieve it again.

"My coach deserves respect because I know he wants to win and if he doesn't play me there is always a reason.

"Hopefully I can open his eyes and make him see that I deserve to play."

Chelsea go to Fabregas' former club Arsenal in the league on Saturday and the Spain World Cup winner wants to show Conte, who arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer, why he is wrong to leave him out.

"He speaks a lot," Fabregas said of Conte. "He spoke to me a few times as well. He wants the midfielders to be very complete. To be physically strong.

"We are training very hard. Maybe I'm a bit more the playmaker, creative going forward and he wants me to be a little bit more stable and compact in defence."