A Fab beginning

He has enjoyed four days off on Mourinho's instruction. But today Fabregas goes back to work, with the team set to meet at Chelsea's training ground in a few hours' time to prepare for their first match as league champions. Until then, and with a large sushi order on the way to ensure he arrives at Cobham fully fuelled, Fabregas is ours to ask how an unexpected link-up with a former foe turned into one of the season's biggest success stories.

Was there a moment or match during the season when you first realised this was a title-winning team?
"Basically, in all the big games. Almost every three days we were competing in the Champions League, Capital One Cup or Premier League. And, up until now, we've lost only three games all season. That's remarkable, I'd say, because we've played more than 50 games for sure [Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Liverpool last weekend was their 52nd game of the season]. That's not an easy thing to do, considering the high level football is at these days. I knew from the beginning that we had a good squad and all the ingredients to have a good season, but you still have to perform to make that happen. We've been very consistent throughout the whole season. And, at the end, it's the most consistent teams that get silverware."

Was the transition from playing in Spain to returning to the Premier League as straightforward as many presumed it would be for you?
"There is always something that you have to adjust to when you go to a new club, as much as it is the same league that I played in for eight years at Arsenal. When you change clubs, though, there are new people, new tactics, a new manager, new everything. So you have to adapt and adjust to what the team wants from you. But apart from that, I have always just tried to play my game, be natural and be efficient."

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