Cesc Fabregas believes it will be harder to win the title with Chelsea than when he was at Arsenal due to the increased competitiveness of the Premier League.
Fabregas, 27, left the Gunners for boyhood club Barcelona in 2011, but returned to London this summer to sign for Jose Mourinho's side.
The Stamford Bridge club currently sit three points clear at the top of the table, but the Spain international insists the English top flight is now tougher than when he left it to return to La Liga three years ago.
"The league has improved since I left in 2011, especially defensively and also in terms of the stability that teams try to have -- the coaches and teams are more afraid to drop points now," the Evening Standard quotes him as telling Chelsea Magazine.
"I feel that for the top teams it is a bit more difficult to attack than it was before. Spain technically is a great league and maybe it's still a little more tactical than England but that has improved a lot here.
"That doesn't mean in Spain it is more difficult to beat the opponent because in England -- especially with the fans, passion and commitment -- when we play away it is always difficult. All the teams want to attack."
The playmaker has been in fine form for Chelsea since leaving Barca for the second time in his career, and while he admits he will miss the Camp Nou, Fabregas is delighted with Mourinho handing him a starring role for the Blues.
"Of course when Jose Mourinho came in, it was a big chance for me," he added. "I had a really good time at Barcelona but I wanted to feel the way I'm feeling now -- someone who can really give something positive to the team and feel that I am important.
"This is a big thing for me and when I spoke to the boss [about the transfer], he made me feel all those things and told me what I wanted to hear, what I needed to hear."