Cesc Fabregas: Frank Lampard and I battled on the pitch but we made up during the 2018 World Cup

Cesc Fabregas has revealed how he and Frank Lampard buried an 11-year grudge in a Russian gym.

And Fabregas has also confirmed that he is interested in following Lampard, who is now Chelsea’s head coach, into management when his playing career ends.

Former Chelsea midfielders Fabregas and Lampard were sworn enemies as playing opponents, with the Spaniard eventually replacing the former England international at Stamford Bridge.

The feud kicked off during the 2007 League Cup final between Arsenal, who Fabregas was playing for, and Chelsea, who won the final with Lampard in their team. And it did not end until the pair were working together for television at the 2018 World Cup.

“It’s completely true [that we fell out], we don’t have to hide anything,” said Fabregas. “I think he will tell you the same thing. We have had many, many battles during the years and we kind of disliked each other on the football pitch because he wanted to play and win for Chelsea and I wanted to win for Arsenal.

“The League Cup final was kind of crazy. We were losing 2-1 and  it was basically the last moment of the game and you feel a little frustrated. [John Obi] Mikel and Kolo Toure went into a tackle and both got sent off. Me and Frank had a moment there. I think maybe I was very young and very enthusiastic. I wanted to beat the world basically and sometimes I was overwhelmed by the situation and went over the top.

“Even when I was with Barcelona, I remember in the Champions League clash we also had our moments. I love it, personally. Frank is a competitor and a winner, and he will tell you the same thing.

“We met each other at the World Cup in Russia working for the BBC and we went to the gym together. We were having lunch together and that was when he had just signed for Derby, and I was asking him questions about how he saw the situation and he was explaining his plans a little bit.

“This is what football is about. I respect him so much for what he has done with Chelsea and for football in general. He was a fantastic player and a fantastic opponent to play against. Of course, I disliked him, because many times they beat us and it was difficult to play against him, but always with respect and admiration.”

Lampard will lead Chelsea out as head coach in Saturday’s FA Cup final against Arsenal and, having seen a number of his old team-mates and opponents move into the dug-out, 33-year-old Fabregas is interested in moving into management when his career ends.

“It’s something I’m looking into,” said Fabregas. “Not something that bothers me a lot or that I think about too much because I think I still want to play for three or four more years. But it’s something that’s there in my mind that I would like to do in the future, quite quickly after I finish playing. So, hopefully, it can be a successful career as well.”