It was May 17 2014 when Cesc Fabregas played his last match for Barcelona, before going to Chelsea where he enjoyed immediate success, and he revealed that playing against friends like Lionel Messi motivates him.
It's been a grand total of 46 months since that fateful day at the Camp Nou and Fabregas is returning home for a second time and will be well received by the club.
In an exclusive interview with MARCA, the former Arsenal midfielder detailed his Barcelona departure, as well as his Chelsea career and how he feels the team can hurt the Blaugrana in the Champions League.
Did you realise that would be your last Barcelona appearance?
"I haven't played a single game there since that day, I didn't realise it would be my last appearance for the club, but the truth is that it was a very sad day all round."
What does it mean to return to your city?
"It's a mix of desire and mystery, it will be a complicated, difficult match. 90 minutes of football at the Camp Nou is a long time for any visiting team. We're working well and are looking forward to the challenge, we're prepared."
It will also be against friends like Pique and Messi, how does that feel?
"I like playing against friends, you feel an extra motivation."
What feelings have you had when facing Barcelona previously?
"I like it, the feelings have always been positive ones. I did it with Arsenal and now with Chelsea, I've felt pretty good on both occasions. It doesn't bother me to play against my previous club or old friends, it motivates me."
How do you expect the fans to welcome you?
"That's unimportant, the match is Barcelona against Chelsea, what happens with me is of secondary importance, what we want is to qualify for the next round and nothing else."
In the match you will find yourself in similar areas to your friend Messi, how do you look forward to that?
"If I am lucky enough to play, it's true that we are positioned in nearby areas of the pitch, stopping him will be difficult but I will try to do everything possible so that he feels uncomfortable and can't put together a perfect performance."
What do you think when you see him on an opposing team, do you see him as a rival or a friend?
"I see him as a rival who wants to win, and I want the same thing. We are in different teams and each player wants what is best for their own club. Obviously, you always have respect for each other."
If you stop to assess the tie, Chelsea only need to score one goal, more complicated challenges have been passed, would you agree?
"Yes, it's difficult as the Camp Nou is very big and you have to run a lot, but we'll work together. The key is to take advantage of our opportunities, we have to play our game but do damage when possible. I've never trained tactically as much as I have at Chelsea and it shows on the pitch, it's demanding but we end up benefitting from it."
Last week Juventus visited Tottenham in similar circumstances and progressed, can you take anything from that?
"In these knockout rounds, being effective is an absolute necessity. Juventus didn't have many chances, but the two they did have ended up in the net. The tie changed in a minute and that is why it's so important to seize your moment. We know we must score, but in matches like this you have to be smart and not go crazy from the beginning in search of the goal."
The 1-1 draw in the first leg wasn't a fair result based on what happened on the pitch, what feels did you have after that match?
"They hardly had any chances, even if it's true that Barcelona controlled possession, they didn't hurt us with it. The times when we attacked, we did it with purpose and we were a danger. Their goal came from a small mistake which could happen to any of us, but a draw against Barcelona is never a bad result."
Would you celebrate scoring a goal at the Camp Nou?
"Honestly, I haven't thought about it at all. I've only scored two goals this season and it's been a while since my last goal. There are feelings at such a moment that you can't predict, I can't definitively say I won't celebrate, but it's unlikely I would. I don't think I'll get many chances due to the position I play, what he asks of me is different to others. You never know in football and I hope it can happen, but I haven't thought about it."
It certainly isn't impossible for Chelsea to eliminate the Blaugrana, do you feel the same?
"That has to be the mentality with which we go into this match. We can't start at the Camp Nou with a negative mindset, it must be the opposite, we have to enjoy this big match."
Why did you decide to sign for Chelsea?
"Mourinho convinced me, he made everything so clear to me. I had other offers but as soon as we spoke I was convinced about joining Chelsea."
Real Madrid are the team which consistently succeeds in the Champions League, did you expect them to progress past Paris-Saint Germain?
"They played fantastically well in Paris, I like their performance a lot. They had two lines of four which allowed them to be effective on the counter, they deserved to qualify."
What do both Messi and Ronaldo have which sees them perform year after year?
"They are players who always want more success, it seems incredible that they improve every year but they do. It's something to admire, two great athletes who feed off each other. They get better with the other and the truth is that it's a pleasure to share a career with them."
The World Cup is approaching and you don't seem to be in Lopetegui's plans, can you change that?
"I would love to go to the World Cup, I haven't closed the door on the possibility of returning to the national team, although Lopetegui seems to have other plans. I work hard every day in the hope of a return, I have given everything when I've represented the country."
Are you still motivated by playing football?
"Yes, a lot. I enjoy every training session, every game and I still have a few years left to continue what I've been doing since I was 16."
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