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Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas continues offensive form in post-game interview
Cesc Fabregas has every reason to feel good about himself and strike back at his critics after his extra-time brace gave Chelsea the win over Leicester City.
Cesc Fabregas made the most of a rare starting XI opportunity for Antonio Conte’s Chelsea. The Spanish midfielder put up a night of stellar statistics to bolster a Goal of the Year contender.
Beyond the numbers, Fabregas showed all the intangibles that Chelsea have been missing: creative vertical passes, precise over-the-top long balls to Diego Costa and impeccable link-up play amongst the forwards.
After the match, the media spoke with him and fellow goal-scorer Gary Cahill. Continuing what he started during the match, Fabregas made the most of his opportunity in front of the SkySports microphone.
Shots fired @cesc4official pic.twitter.com/PYpAsOa35G
— ️ (@HazardEdition) September 20, 2016
I was happy to play, first of all, from the start… Hopefully this will shut a few journalists, a few dailies, a few whatever who are talking rubbish all the time and focus on what is important. Chelsea winning, focusing on playing well and when I have the chance, show what I can do because I know what I can do and it’s a lot for this team.
We’re not journalists here by any stretch of the word. That said, Cesc Fabregas most definitely shut us up with his performance against Leicester City. Fabregas rendered irrelevant all talk of his inability or unwillingness to play defence with a commanding performance as the midfield playmaker.
Even if Fabregas only has one key attribute, it is an attribute Chelsea sorely lacks in his absence. Chelsea struggled to generate chances against Swansea City and Liverpool. Diego Costa saw little of the ball against Liverpool because no one provided him service to take against the Reds’ defence.
#Fabregas v Leicester
4 chances created
2 goals
87% passing accuracy
81 touches
62 passes
One 70 yard run to celebrate with the fans #CFC— Andy H (@ChelsLad66) September 20, 2016
Without Fabregas on the pitch, the Blues have little creative outlet. Eden Hazard is strong on the ball and taking on defenders, but he can only open up space in his immediate vicinity. Fabregas’ passes both find and create space by stretching the opponent’s defence. Whether he goes straight over-the-top or diagonally along the ground, Fabregas puts the ball where Diego Costa and Michy Batshuayi can earn their keep as strikers.
Chelsea’s defenders need as much help from their midfielders as possible. But this does not mean that Antonio Conte should sacrifice Fabregas’ offensive contributions at the clumsy feet of Nemanja Matic.
RELATED: CESC FABREGAS AND N’GOLO KANTE: CHELSEA’S TALE OF TWO MIDFIELDERS
Oscar and N’Golo Kante are developing into a midfield tandem that locks down the centre of the pitch. Mikel John Obi and Nemanja Matic can come on as late substitutions to see out a game. Nathaniel Chalobah, having finally debuted for Chelsea, shows similar two-way potential on the left side.
Antonio Conte does not need Fabregas to be something he is not. Conte and Chelsea need Cesc Fabregas to do exactly what he did at King Power Stadium. Conte has the squad to make this happen, if he is willing to displace some of his regulars.
Cesc Fabregas earned a place in the starting XI as well as the right to slap back at his critics. If he can extend this run of form into the Premier League, Conte’s formations and Chelsea’s prospects improve considerably.
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