FABREGAS DELIGHTED TO PROVE CHELSEA BOSS CONTE WRONG
Fabregas delighted to prove Chelsea manager Conte wrong
LONDON: Veteran Spanish international Cesc Fabregas is happy he has proved Chelsea manager Antonio Conte wrong and shown he is an indispensable part of the English Premier League champions’ side.
The 30-year-old midfielder – who has played 18 times already this season compared to just the four appearances he had at a similar stage last term – is hoping this season might yield him one of the few winners medals he is lacking: the Champions League.
Fabregas, who was a member of the Spain side that won successive European Championships in 2008 and 2012, as well as the 2010 World Cup, said he could have just given up when Conte didn’t initially select him last season.
“I wasn’t playing, I wasn’t really part of his (Conte’s) initial plans and at that point you can do two things,” said Fabregas.
“You can just give up and accept you are not going to be part of the team or the club in the future.
“The other is what I did, put your head down and be humble, show him that he’s wrong.
“My relationship with the manager (now) is fantastic. “He trusts me.
“He knows exactly what I can give to the team.”
Fabregas, who was a member of the Arsenal side that lost to Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League final, will be 32 when his present contract is up in 2019 and Chelsea policy is to only offer one year contracts to players aged 30 and over.
However, he says he doesn’t feel his age.
“I am only 30. What is 30? Nothing,” said Fabregas.
“I’m very young. I really mean it. Especially how I play, the position I play. You can go for many more years.
“I’m where I want to be. I’m enjoying my football.
“When the moment comes to talk about different things I’ll be here, ready for it.”
Conte agreed with Fabregas with regard to his age.
“When you are 30 years old you have at least five more years,” said Conte.
“He’s a winner in his mind, in his mentality, for this reason he is very strong.” — AFP LONDON: Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud could lose his place in France’s squad for next year’s World Cup if he does not get more playing time at the English Premier League club, according to the national team’s assistant manager Guy Stephan.
Giroud is yet to begin a league game for Arsenal this campaign, notching all three of his domestic goals as a substitute, but has started all the north London club’s Europa League and League Cup matches.
The 31-year-old and fellow forward Alexis Sanchez have consistently been Arsenal’s top goalscorers in recent seasons but the Frenchman has been relegated to the bench in favour of compatriot Alexandre Lacazette during this campaign.
“It’s clear that he is not getting enough playing time and Didier ( France manager Didier Deschamps) has already spoken to him about it,” Stephan told French TV network TF1.
“He has to find a solution in the coming weeks.
“He has a very good goals-togames ratio, but he now has to play.”
Giroud, who has scored 29 goals in 69 games for France, was part of the squad that progressed to the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals and the 2016 European Championship final.
Arsenal are fifth in the league and travel to 11th-placed Southamp-ton on Sunday.