Cesc Fabregas empties his bag
A holy blow. In January 2019, AS Monaco will have to make a good catch by getting their hands on Cesc Fabregas. Passed by Barça, Arsenal or Chelsea, the Spaniard arrived on the Rock to bring his experience and his knowledge of the very high level to a young and suffering team, led at the time by a certain Thierry Henry. But the latter had been dismissed just a month after the arrival of the midfielder born in 87. What to give Fabregas regrets?
“I have my opinion. There is no need to say too much. At the time, I signed with one objective: to save the team, then 19th with 13 points. I took a big risk because relegation was possible. The first match, we draw in Marseille (1-1, 20th day). Then, I scored against Toulouse (2-1, 23rd day) the goal of a crucial victory for the rest of the season. We can be satisfied to have saved the team. I’m proud of what I brought in those six months.”he confessed to AFP. The following season, on the other hand, did not give him satisfaction.
Fabregas is bitter
“The team got off to a bad start and so did I. The arrival of Robert Moreno in January made it possible to go better. We were good, especially in Paris (3-3, 20th day). But the season was interrupted due to Covid. Between Nice (1-2, March 7, 2020) and the recovery against Reims (2-2, August 23), six months have passed, with a new change of coach. After an injury in pre-season, I played regularly and was consistent with Niko (Kovac)”. Then he continued on the subject, believing that he had had a positive contribution.
“I played about thirty games, especially coming off the bench. I remember Paris, Brest, Lille where I influenced the meeting. Having that impact is always what I’m looking for. On an additional podium. For me, these two and a half years have therefore been positive. On the other hand, the current season is very bad, the worst of my career. And by far ! I had never experienced that. But without me, the team will, I hope, still finish on the podium.. Lucid, Fabregas wishes the best to Monaco, which he will leave at the end of June.
The end of his adventure on the Rock
“No, it’s sure that it’s over between Monaco and me. My contract expires next June, and I’m looking for a fresh start. My head needs a fresh start elsewhere”. Because Fabregas is disappointed, he who has not played the season (5 appearances, 0 tenure) due to several physical glitches. “At the individual level, it ends badly, that’s for sure. Every professional wants to play and feel important. But at the collective level, I am satisfied. Monaco can qualify for the Champions League. This is the goal of the club.”.
A club which had also given it the mission of supporting young people. What convinced him to train thereafter. “I already told them! They know it (laughs)! But first, I still want to play. I don’t want to end up like this. The year was too bad to end like this. I want to have fun, finish with good feelings. I have many contacts. I have already met a few people. Nothing is decided. I listen. I am open to everything. Maybe the level of the club will have to drop. But there are, in C1, lower level teams. One thing is clear in any case: I will go to a club where I will play, where people believe in me..
The Spaniard wants to coach
He pursues : “I don’t know (how long he will play yet). Time will tell. Then, I plan to retrain as a coach as soon as possible. This profession fascinates me. I want to learn more and more, to be well prepared. I will graduate in Spain. With (Andrés) Iniesta, we have already mentioned the possibility of following the course together. (…) I have my own philosophy of the game. The style of a team always depends on the quality and characteristics of the players. You don’t have to be crazy, otherwise you’ll never win.”.
Ready to embark on a career as a coach, he was therefore not finished with football for at least 20 years. “30 years rather! My wife already knows that. She asks me, “When will you give me the life you promised me?” I answer: “Never! (laughs) We will take six months to discover the world. And then I’ll dive back!” Before that, the former Barca player still plans to take on a new challenge as a player. Just to end on a good note…