Cesc Fàbregas ahead of Chelsea's Paris decider

Speaking to the press ahead of Chelsea FC's UEFA Champions League round of 16 decider against Paris Saint-Germain, Cesc Fàbregas spoke about his new role and a significant missing piece in his trophy collection.

On Chelsea returning to peak form…
I do think we had a period where we played many games, and it's obviously difficult to cope with all the pressure from one competition to another. We are playing well. Maybe we had a little bit of a dip of form, but we've raised our game in the last few matches. Hopefully we can see the best Chelsea in the next match and qualify, which is the main objective.

On how much experience matters in big European games…
It's important until a certain moment. When the pressure comes, in the final minutes when you're under pressure, losing or winning and one draw takes it to penalties, it's the character, attitude and personality. [Paris] are more experienced in terms of age, but we are a young team who want to take Chelsea to the next round. We know PSG are a great team. That doesn't mean they scare us.

On what it would mean to win the UEFA Champions League…
I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a competition that is special to me. Ask a player what he wants to win in his career – he'll say the World Cup and the Champions League. It's not an extra pressure, but I want to win it. I will give my best and hopefully we will go through into the next round.

On working with José Mourinho…
It's been really good so far, but I expected that. I knew that coming to Chelsea – as the big club they are – with a big manager, I'd learn a lot, and that's what I'm doing. He's put me in a position I'm enjoying as the best in my career. I'm helping the team, and enjoying working under him. Hopefully he will take us to the next level to win this competition and many more for Chelsea.

On adapting to his new deep role as a playmaker…
You don't see me in the box too often in the latter stage of my career. You see me more positional, most of the times behind the ball, giving players options to control the tempo. I have had to improve defensively. I can still improve more – I know that. With time and with more games to understand my team-mates, I'm sure it will get better from both parts.

On Nemanja Matić…
He's a top player. He's having a fantastic season. He's the one that gives balance to the team, offensively and defensively. He's a key player for us. He gives us this ability to control games tactically very well.

On what Chelsea need to do to reach the next level…
What we're missing a bit this season, it's that moment when, if we can kill, we have to kill. There have been moments where we've not done that and allowed other players to push and be dangerous. We have to be more determined, especially when we go forward. When we get one goal, we have to go for the second and third. That's the only thing we can really improve. Hopefully we will have that killer instinct [against Paris] and go for the game from the first second.

Cesc Fàbregas meets the world's press©Getty Images