Sunday 19 October 2014 08:52, UK
Cesc Fabregas has laughed off suggestions his current Chelsea side could emulate the Arsenal team that navigated an entire Premier League season with losing.
Chelsea have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the campaign - winning seven of their opening eight games - the latest of which was a 2-1 victory away to Crystal Palace, during which Fabregas netted the game's deciding goal.
Following Saturday’s victory, Chelsea’s summer signing from Barcelona was asked if he thought his team could maintain their unbeaten start throughout the campaign.
But the former Arsenal captain claimed no club could eclipse the Gunners’ exploits from a decade ago and instead decided to maintain his focus on bringing as many trophies as possible to Stamford Bridge.
"No this is a joke, this is a joke," he told Sky Sports.
"I think there will be only one team who can do that, the Arsenal team of 2003. I was part of it a little bit at the end and it was a different class team.
I don’t think we are there yet but we are building up a very young, talented and solid team.
"I don’t think we are there yet but we are building up a very young, talented and solid team and hopefully we can get to the final part of the season with options for winning everything."
Fabregas went on to praise the determination, adaptability and individual brilliance that the Blues showcased at Selhurst Park in a contest where both sides finished the game with 10 men, following the dismissals of his team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta and Palace’s Damien Delaney.
"I wouldn’t say we were comfortable but we had a very good second half, especially when it was ten versus ten," the Spaniard added.
"We had difficulty in the first few minutes but thankfully Oscar’s fantastic goal helped us to keep with the pressure.
"Then afterwards, in the second half, it’s a completely different game. At ten versus ten it's a different game, even if there are equal players, but as I said it was a solid performance."
