Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has said that confidence at the club is growing after today's thumping 5-1 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup.

Fabregas helped the Blues reach the quarter-finals, where they will travel to Everton next month, as Chelsea eased past a weakened City lineup at Stamford Bridge.

"You can see straight away we are playing better and better," Fabregas told BBC Sport after the match. "The confidence grows when you are winning and that is football, that is life."

City boss Manuel Pellegrini named five debutants in his starting lineup due to the fact that they have a Champions League tie in Kiev on Wednesday and then the League Cup final against Liverpool next weekend.

"I must admit I was surprised by the team selection," Fabregas added. "For us, it was a negative because we would be humiliated if we lost against them."

Chelsea have now won all six of their FA Cup matches in Guus Hiddink's two spells in charge.