Cesc Fabregas has said he is enjoying his more significant role in the
Barcelona side as they look to continue their storming start to the
campaign with a win over Espanyol in the Catalan derby on Friday.
Fabregas was involved in all three of Barca's goals as they moved four
points clear of Atletico Madrid in second place with a convincing 3-0
win over Celta Vigo on Tuesday.
Barca boss Gerardo Martino had taken the opportunity to rest a number of
his stars for the game in Galicia as the likes of Neymar, Andres
Iniesta and Xavi all started on the bench.
However, Fabregas was retained from the side that beat Real Madrid 2-1
on Saturday and registered his second goal of the season with Barca's
third nine minutes into the second-half.
"Right now I am playing a lot of games, I feel important and the only
thing that I have to do is play well for the team," he told the club's
website.
"These rotations give life to a lot of players and they are making us all feel important."
Martino has been keen to ensure his players don't suffer from burnout in
the way they did towards the end of the last campaign when they were
hammered 7-0 on aggregate by Bayern Munich in the Champions League
semifinals.
And with Barca in the midst of seven games in 22 days, the Argentine will rotate once more for the visit of Epsanyol.
However, despite the game being sandwiched by a series of other
important matches for the hosts, Fabregas doesn't belive the derby will
lose any of its importance.
"A derby is always a derby. It will be difficult and we hope to show our best form and win the three points."
Despite much talk of Barcelona's defensive problems, Tuesday night also saw them register their ninth clean sheet in 16 games.
And goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who is the only Barca player to start
every game this season, hailed their attitude so far in what, on paper,
should be their easier fixtures.
"Winning against Celta is the best possible way to prepare for a derby. We have been reinforced by the Madrid match.
"We have shown how much we want this league and everything depends on
winning games like the one on Tuesday and against Espanyol."
Barca could be short of options at left-back as Adriano is a doubt after
limping off against Celta with a hamstring strain, while Jordi Alba
remains sidelined by a thigh injury so right-back Martin Montoya may
start in an unfamiliar role.
Otherwise, Martino has a fully-fit squad to choose from with Gerard Pique, Neymar, Xavi and Iniesta all expected to return.
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