Departing from Monaco, Fabregas does not want “to end up like that”
Q: At the end of the contract in June, your story with Monaco ends badly…
A: “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’m satisfied. Monaco can qualify for the Champions League. That’s the goal. of the club.”
Q: Having accepted in January 2019, the proposal of Thierry Henry, ousted a month after your arrival, was he the right choice?
A: “I have my opinion. It is useless 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 the relegation was possible. The first match, we drew 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 am proud of what I gave in those six months.”
Q: The following year was just as volatile…
A: “The team got off to a bad start (first victory after 7 days, editor’s note) 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, Matchday 20. But the season was interrupted due to Covid. Between Nice (1-2, March 7, 2020) and the resumption against Reims (2-2, August 23), six months have passed, with a new change of “coach. After an injury in the pre-season, I played regularly and was consistent with Niko (Kovac, the coach at the time, editor’s note).
Q: That is to say?
A: “I played around thirty games (20 in L1 and 5 in the Coupe de France, editor’s note), especially coming off the bench. I remember Paris, Brest, Lille where I influenced the game. Having that impact is always what I’m looking for. We took away the 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. away! I had never experienced that. But without me, I will, I hope, still finish on the podium.”
Q: Did you have any influence in the locker room?
A: “When I came, Thierry (Henry) and Vadim (Vasilyev) also asked me to help young people grow. It was an important point. Today, I have the feeling of having The respect and sympathy of this young generation. I hope I have helped. We like each other (smiles). I will continue to follow them, exchange with them. I would like to see Fofana, Diop or Tchouameni at Bayern or Liverpool !”
Q: Even train them?
A: “I’ve already told them! They know it (laughs)! But first, I still want to play. I don’t want to end like this. The year has been 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 it will be necessary that the level of the club 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 they believe in me.
Q: How much longer are you playing?
A: “I don’t know. Time will tell. Then, I plan to become a coach again as soon as possible. I am passionate about this job. I want to learn more and more, to be well prepared. I will graduate in Spain. With (Andrés) Iniesta, we have already discussed the possibility of following the course together.”
Q: With the desire to bring Barcelona’s DNA to life?
A: “I have my own philosophy of the game. The style of a team always depends on the quality and characteristics of the players. You must not be crazy, otherwise you will never win.”
Q: So 20 new years of football are ahead of you…
A: “30 years rather! My wife already knows it. She asks me: + When will you offer me the life you promised me? + I answer: + Never! + (laughs) We will take six months to find out the world. And then I’ll dive again!”
Proposed by Christophe BELLEUDI