Arsene Wenger reveals he no longer talks to Cesc Fabregas
Sports
By
Mirror
| Apr 24, 2015
Arsene Wenger has urged Arsenal fans to “respect” Cesc Fabregas - despite giving his former captain the cold shoulder himself.
Chelsea midfielder Fabregas can expect a hate filled reception when he returns to the Emirates for the first time on Sunday four years since leaving Arsenal to join Barcelona in a £40m deal.
But Wenger has not spoken to Fabregas since he moved to Chelsea last summer despite the pair’s once close relationship. Fabregas has previously described Wenger as being a “second father” to him.
Wenger’s fierce rivalry with Chelsea and Jose Mourinho probably made Fabregas’s move to Stamford Bridge feel like the ultimate betrayal and their special bond is no more.
But Wenger says Fabregas - who had eight years at Arsenal - deserves a better reception from the Arsenal fans than he is likely to give the Spanish midfielder.
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Wenger said: “I want every player to be respected, and for Cesc Fabregas, when he comes to the Emirates on Sunday, to be respected like he deserves.”
Fabregas claimed last year was the first time he had not received a text from Wenger wishing him happy birthday.
Arsenal also had “first option” on re-signing Fabregas from Barcelona as part of the deal which took him to the Nou Camp.
But Wenger, who was reluctant to stoke up any bad feeling before a London derby, has previously said that he felt Fabregas’s move to Chelsea was done and agreed before Arsenal were alerted that Barcelona were going to sell him.
Wenger says he has “no regrets” about Fabregas as Arsenal look to end Mourinho’s remarkable hoodoo. Wenger has never beaten Mourinho in 12 previous meetings in the Premier League.
Wenger added: “The regret I have is that he wanted to leave here. This club and myself had a very positive influence on Cesc’s life, so I would be a bit uncomfortable to have to justify today why he is not here.
“I believe I would rather it was the other way around. We will have to discuss (why Arsenal didn’t re-sign him) that one day. With all the terms. It’s not as clean as that.
“I cannot speak to you about that now because that will not help us to win the game on Sunday.”
Wenger is also confident he can end the Mourinho curse and said: “I think we have not always lost in 12 attempts. We have been close.
“Having said that, the result on Sunday will just be down to the performance on the day. We are on a good run and we have an opportunity at home to beat them and we want to take it.
“We have a good run of form and good belief and solidarity. We have passed many tests recently when we were questioned. We have another test on Sunday that we want to pass.
“Chelsea's strengths are they have been very efficient on counter attacks and set-pieces as well. We have to nullify their strengths.”