Cesc Fabregas has opened up on his relationship with Jose Mourinho, in comments which should offer hope to Tottenham supporters.
Fabregas was signed by Mourinho when he moved from Barcelona to Chelsea in 2014, and went on to win the Premier League title in his first season in west London.
Mourinho left Stamford Bridge the following year, and has since managed Manchester United before joining Tottenham as Mauricio Pochettino's replacement earlier in the campaign.
After an initially promising start to life at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs ensured some poor results before the season was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The north Londoners crashed out of the FA Cup on penalties to Norwich, before being knocked out of the Champions League 4-0 on aggregate by RB Leipzig.
But the Spanish midfielder, who now plays for Monaco, admits the Portuguese head coach was the deciding factor behind his choice to join Chelsea, despite his Arsenal background - and praised the ex-Real Madrid boss' impact.
"I spoke to [Jose] Mourinho, which I didn't think would ever happen to be honest and he knows that, because of what happened when I was at Arsenal and Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid," Fabregas told Arseblog.
"But after I left the room with Mourinho I said to Darren [Dein, his agent]: 'that's it, I'm going to Chelsea'.
"There was no money involved. What he told me, the team he wanted to make, what he thought of me, how he wanted me to play absolutely every game.
"I just felt for many things that Chelsea was the right solution at that time. To be honest, thank God I took that decision.
"I know it can be controversial with the Arsenal fans but these five years I've been very happy there.
"We won everything in England. The most winning team in English football in the time I've been there, playing some great football at times.
"With the fans there's been a connection, we always had a great understanding. I've been so happy there."
