Burnley 1 - Chelsea 3: Cesc Fabregas shines on Blues debut to inspire victory

Posted Tuesday, August 19, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

JOSE MOURINHO claimed Cesc Fabregas has the brains to unlock any Premier League defence.

Burnley 1 - Chelsea 3: Cesc Fabregas shines on Blues debut to inspire victory
CESCI FOOTBALL: Fabregas was Chelsea's maestro against Burnley

And the £30m summer signing from Barcelona showed his genius last night on a stunning return to England for the former Arsenal midfielder.

Fabregas was a shock signing for the Blues as the ex-Gunner was reportedly turned down by his old boss Arsene Wenger and also Manchester United.

And his dazzling debut for Chelsea makes that decision look even more mind-boggling for the transfer thinkers at those clubs, especially the creativity-starved United.

But their loss is Chelsea’s brain gain and Fabregas’ quick-thinking helped create all three Blues’ goals as they came from behind to spoil Burnley’s big return to the top flight.

It had all started so well for the Clarets when Scott Arfield fired them into an early lead.

Everything about this game’s opening moments rekindled memories of the Clarets’ first ever Premier League game at Turf Moor back in 2009.

The atmosphere was deafening and intimidating as the home fans held up a mosaic reading “Our Turf” when the teams walked out.

There was an early warning for Jose Mourinho’s side amid the frantic start that the team led by the man dubbed the "Ginger Mourinho” were up for this.

Summer signing Lukas Jutkiewicz waltzed through the Chelsea defence right in front of the visiting supporters before lashing a shot into the side netting for Sean Dyche’s men.

But in the 14th minute, the noise level somehow went up at this character-filled Lancashire ground when Arfield rifled in the stunning opener.

A cross from Matt Taylor after Chelsea failed to clear a corner found the former Huddersfield Town man and he blasted in.

For Burnley it felt like this could be a night similar to when Robbie Blake scored the stunner that shocked United in 2009.

Burnley 1 - Chelsea 3: Cesc Fabregas shines on Blues debut to inspire victory
BACK IN THE SWING: Mourinho gets Chelsea going again

But Chelsea were in no mood to allow themselves to be forever in Burnley folklore like United and were level just three minutes later.

While a free signing from Huddersfield scored Burnley’s opener, a £32m man from Atletico Madrid got Chelsea’s just to remind everyone of the gulf in spending between the two.
Ivanovic’s cross, after a brilliant back heel from Fabregas, was deflected onto the post by Michael Duff, but Diego Costa was on hand to power in the rebound and grab a debut goal.

Burnley’s dream start then turned into a nightmare when the Blues took the lead in the 21st minute.

Mourinho ‘brains’ claim before the game was given the perfect case study when Fabregas provided a stunning pass to slice open the Burnley back line and set up Andre Schurrle.

Ivanovic pinged a ball across and the Spaniard showed his football intelligence to play a first time pass on the volley into the German international, who then beat the offside trap before sliding home.

Chelsea could have had a penalty on the half hour mark when a misplaced back pass from Ben Mee fell into the path of the ever-threatening Costa, but the Spain striker was booked by referee Michael Oliver for diving.

The Blues would not have to wait long for the third as Fabregas sprinkled yet more magic on his return to the Premier League after a three-year hiatus at Barcelona.

The former Arsenal midfielder swung in a dangerous corner and Ivanovic skipped past his marker to volley home in the 34th minute.

The euphoria that had swept around Turf Moor early on was long gone, as the Spanish flair from Fabregas strangled the life out of the previously buoyant atmosphere.

Burnley 1 - Chelsea 3: Cesc Fabregas shines on Blues debut to inspire victory
ON SONG: Chelsea new boy Costa grabs his first Chelsea goal

The Clarets fans were given a brief bit of hope when Arfield curled goalwards soon after the break, but Thibaut Courtois proved Blues boss Mourinho right for picking him over Petr Cech with a superb save.

The Belgium keeper may have done better with Burnley’s goal, but the composure shown on a number of occasions to collect crosses as the hosts tried unsuccessfully to create from wide was impressive.

With chances for both drying up, there was time for the late introduction of Didier Drogba for his second Chelsea debut but there was no need for any drama for the man who has provided so much.

The starting line-up worth almost £200m eased past the £5m side.

The £32m of that spent on Costa has been seen by many as the signing that will get the goals that cost Chelsea the title last season.

But there has to be someone there to provide for Costa and co, and the £30m splashed out on Fabregas may prove Mourinho’s mind is as sharp as his creative midfielder.

BURNLEY (4-4-2): Heaton; Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee; Taylor (Kightly 70), Marney, Jones, Arfield; Ings (Sordell 82), Jutkiewicz (Barnes 70). Subs: Gilks, Dummigan, Long, Wallace, Sordell.

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic; Schurrle (Willian 74), Oscar (Mikel 82), Hazard (Drogba 84); Costa. Subs: Cech, Zouma, Filipe Luis, Mikel, Torres, Drogba.
Referee: Michael Oliver