Cesc Fabregas insists he'll have no problems putting aside his emotions ahead of Chelsea's meeting with Barcelona.
The Blues will take on Ernesto Valverde's side in their Champions League last-16 first-leg tie at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.
The former Arsenal midfielder, who was born in Catalonia, spent time as a youth and senior footballer with Barca, before leaving the Nou Camp for London in 2014.
He told the club's website: "Of course, it's my hometown, it's the club I supported for all my life, but once you step on the pitch it just goes away. I did it before with Arsenal.
"I don't try, it just happens naturally. You want to do well for your club and that's it."
He added: "I have big friends, friends that I played with since I was 13 years old.
"I speak to some of them nearly every day, even when I don't play against them, but it doesn't necessarily have to be about football.
"Probably now the contact is a bit less, probably unconsciously because of the game coming up.
"We are old friends but when we are on the pitch they will try to beat me and I will try to beat them.
"For me, friendship is a fantastic thing but in football, when you play against each other, it clearly changes."