Football
Kevin Palmer 9y

Jose Mourinho says Cesc Fabregas was eager to join Chelsea from Arsenal

Jose Mourinho has revealed Cesc Fabregas didn't need any convincing to sign for the Stamford Bridge club last summer, but the Chelsea manager was forced to upset his own son to make sure the deal went through.

Fabregas will line up against former club Arsenal for the first time since his move back to London from Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Sunday after Gunners boss Arsene Wenger rejected the chance to re-sign his former captain.

While Fabregas signed for Chelsea, there was also good news for Mourinho as his son, budding goalkeeper Jose Jr., enjoyed success with Fulham's junior side in Germany.

"My son was in Germany with and his team qualified to play the final against Bayern Munich, so I wanted to go," Mourinho told reporters.

"I normally never go to watch my son, but it was the only day I wanted to go, but then I hear he [Fabregas] only could travel to London on this day to talk, so I had to stay and do my job. No problem, I will watch my son play other times.

"I spoke with [Fabregas] and after ten minutes, he was telling me he wants to join us. We spoke about football, we spoke about [how] Chelsea project, we spoke about where I want him to play, the way I want him to transform my team, the Chelsea philosophy also as a club.

"Also, we spoke in general terms about what we would be able to pay him, but this is not my job. I just to give him an idea and after that he was telling me yes, I want to go, no doubt.

"We did things perfectly. We went to Barcelona, we went to his agent and it was all done so fast. Normally, these things take more time, but my club was fantastic. Also, my son won his final 1-0."

It was as Wenger celebrated his 1,000th game in charge of Arsenal that Mourinho inflicted one of the more humiliating experiences of his career with the 6-0 rout of the Gunners last March, but Mourinho insisted he had no sympathy for the Frenchman as he was ridiculed by the Stamford Bridge faithful.

When asked if he felt sympathy for Wenger as his big day was ruined in this fixture last season, Mourinho offered up a predictable response. "Sorry for what? That's football, that's football," he stated before addressing the taunts directed towards Wenger by Chelsea fans.

"Every Sunday people sing against me," he added. "Even at Stamford Bridge. You listen to the first time the opposite crowd is singing, it's always against me. Always. So what? No problem."

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