Cesc Fàbregas was an integral part of a revamped Chelsea side that claimed two pieces of silverware in 2014-15, including its first Premier League crown in five seasons.
After signing from Barçelona for a fee of £27 million prior to the 2014 World Cup, it did not take long at all for the Spaniard to develop an almost telepathic chemistry with his team-mates, namely Diego Costa and Eden Hazard in attack. Fàbregas was a maestro for the Blues from his deep-lying spot in the midfield, seeing the entire pitch and threading incredible passes forward to pace the Chelsea attack.
Fàbregas finished the season with 21 assists across all competitions, with 18 of those services coming in league play. With so many stellar plays to choose from, narrowing down the five best was not easy, but it sure makes for great viewing. Let us know if you agree with out rankings, starting with number five.
5. At Southampton, Dec. 28, 2014
As this match neared the halfway mark, Chelsea were facing a 0-1 deficit thanks to an early strike from Sadio Mané. That’s when Fàbregas ran onto a loose ball near the midfield line and played a beauty of an aerial ball to Eden Hazard up the left flank. There was still much work to be done by Hazard, who did well to evade defenders and coolly finish in the bottom right corner, but the assist was critical. When you’ve got England’s best player on your side, sometimes all you need to do is find a way to play him into space, as Fàbregas managed to do brilliantly in this instance.
4. At Everton, Aug. 30, 2014
This dime from Fàbregas got the party started in what ended up being the most exciting match of the 2014-15 Premier League season. Chelsea opened the scoring just 35 seconds into the contest courtesy of Diego Costa, who took full advantage of a gorgeous through ball from Cesc that travelled from near the midfield line, gliding about 25 yards to the feet of the Brazilian-born striker. Costa slotted home through the legs of Tim Howard, and the shootout was on from that point forward, once again thanks to an impeccable pass from Fàbregas, who seemed to be at least one move ahead of the defence on this sequence.
3. vs. QPR, Nov. 1, 2014
After taking the ball off Costa outside the top of the 18-yard box, Fàbregas makes an incisive run toward his right and draws in several defenders in the process. As he approaches the edge of the box, Cesc lays off a lovely ball to Oscar on the right side of the 18. The Brazilian tees off on the superb service, curling a right-footed, first-time strike across the face off goal and off the post using the outside of his boot. The strike was absolute class from Oscar, but it would not have been possible were it not for Fàbregas’ set up. The Blues went on to win that match by a final score of 2-1, and this goal from Oscar was voted the season’s best by the players.
2. vs. Arsenal, Oct. 5, 2014
Arsenal came to Stamford Bridge in early October and were unable to beat José Mourinho once again thanks to scores from Hazard and Costa, and some touchline intimidating from the Special One. The second goal of the afternoon was the finisher for the Blues, and it could not have come in more beautiful fashion. Standing on the opposite side of the centre circle, Fàbregas used his field vision to pick out Costa, who was making a direct run toward the Arsenal goal. The Spaniard unleashed a perfectly weighted ball that fell ever so softly to Costa’s chest, allowing the striker to maintain his stride and calmly chip Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny to seal the three points for CFC.
1. at Burnley, Aug. 18, 2014
Fàbregas dished out some incredible passes throughout the campaign, but it turned out to be an assist in his very first game in a Chelsea shirt that reigned supreme for the season.
After Hazard made a trademark run through the heart of the defence, the Belgian found Branislav Ivanovic in space on the right flank. The Serb looked as if he would send a cross into the box, but instead opted to pass back to the middle, where Fàbregas was waiting at the top of the box. The ball bounced a bit awkwardly at Cesc’s feet, and — almost appearing as if he were going to unleash a shot — he smoothly chipped a sublime pass toward a streaking André Schürrle, who slotted home to finish off a wonderfully worked sequence. For Fàbregas to play that perfect of a pass off a half-volley was an incredible sight, and at that point we knew that he would be worth every penny that the club paid for him.
