WINNER’S MEDAL WOULD BE FAB!

WHEN Cesc Fabregas walks out at Wembley to face Manchester United today, it will bring back memories of the 2005 FA Cup — the first major trophy he won as an Arsenal teenager. That was against United, too, and the Spaniard’s standout memory is of kicking Roy Keane and running away. Ask Fabregas where his medal is from that match in Cardiff, however, and he can’t tell you. Thirteen years on, it is missing. So not only are Chelsea trying to save their season by winning the Cup, Fabregas is gunning to replace his missing medal. ‘We played really badly,’ he says of the 2005 final Arsenal won on penalties. ‘We were lucky. It was my first big trophy as a pro at a very young age. I remember Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Paul Scholes and Roy Keane. It was a fantastic United team, one of the best teams I faced. ‘I remember kicking Roy Keane in a good one-on-one. ‘I got away because he was on the floor, so he couldn’t get hold of me. I remember when Patrick Vieira scored the winner. It was his last kick for Arsenal. This medal… I cannot find it. ‘My dad used to keep them and one day I said: “Listen, where are all my medals?” ‘He even nearly lost the World Cup one! It was in my mum’s house in a box.’ Fabregas can laugh about it now but he hopes he will have a new medal tonight. ‘The FA Cup is seen as one of the big trophies,’ he said. ‘Everyone talks about the Champions League, the World Cup, the Euros, but if you are a bit of a romantic, the FA Cup is always very special.’