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I'm better for leaving Arsenal - Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas is back in London as Barcelona face Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final © Getty Images

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• Profile: Cesc Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas believes he has become a better player since he joined Barcelona, suggesting his tactical awareness was lacking at Arsenal.

The former Gunners captain left Emirates Stadium to return to his boyhood club in the summer, and although his goal-to-game ratio has reduced in the latter part of the season - he has scored just once in his last 19 games after netting 14 in his first 23 - he believes it is because he has adapted to a new role in the team.

"I feel I know more about what my position is now than I did at Arsenal - at Arsenal I was tactically not very good at all," Fabregas said. "I did whatever I wanted. Now I have to think more about the team tactically.

"Before I was going up and down and sometimes a little bit lost in the important moment because I wanted to do everything. Now, my team-mates are more experienced than me and I trust them - they have told me to be calm, to stay in my position."

Fabregas insists he has no regrets about leaving the Premier League and Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is a case in point.

"It's much better than I expected and I have played much more than I expected," Fabregas said. "I came here to learn, to get better as a player and a person and also to experience weeks like this - Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Champions League, then Real Madrid in a game which, if we win, we are back in the title race, followed by Chelsea again.

"It's a pleasure to be playing in this team. It's the most important week of the season and to be able to experience something like this is a dream for me.

"Winning the Champions League is a challenge that I have set myself. I was very close a few years ago and I still have a thorn in my side so, for me, it is great dream and I would love it to be fulfilled in my first year at Barcelona."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.