Cesc Fabregas says he cannot sleep at night such is Chelsea's poor beginning to the Premier League season.

The reigning champions find themselves 16th on the table having won just three of their opening 12 matches and their dismal run has left the Spanish midfielder struggling to sleep easy at night.

"It keeps me awake at night when things don't go right," said Fabregas.

"Football is my life. It is ­everything to me.

"My family keep me happy sometimes but when football doesn't go well, my life isn't happy. I try to fix it and try to put it right. We are used to always being at the top.

"Sometimes when I'm at home, in bed, I wonder. You have your own thoughts and the manager will have his thoughts about what is going on and it is all about talking about things and putting this right all together.

"It's been really difficult. It's not the best time at the club and we want to lift ourselves up and to start playing better."

Chelsea will return to action after the international break when they host 15th-placed Norwich City on Saturday.