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29 March 2024

Fabregas reminds Arsenal why he left them

Cesc Fabregas (centre) of Spain celebrate with his team-mates and the UEFA Euro 2012 trophy during their victory parade in Madrid on Monday. (GETTY)

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By Staff

Cesc Fabregas issued an ominous warning to rivals that their hunger for success has not diminished despite Spain being hailed as the greatest team in history after completing a historic treble by retaining the Euro 2012 title.

“Everyone thought we would be finished after the World Cup because we had won the Euros and the World Cup. They thought we might ease off a bit but here we are again, European champions again - and we made the treble. No one has done it in the history of football and we are very proud of it,” said the Barcelona midfielder who revealed their recipe for success after Sunday's 4-0 win over Italy.

Fabregas said: “This group is more than just a team. We are friends. We like to play cards, to be together. It is something else.

“It is not a football team - it is more than that.

“It’s difficult to say how we retain the hunger.

“We are just so normal, we are normal people. We hang out, we play table tennis."

He found it "unbelievable" that his former mentor at Arsenal Arsene Wenger accused Spain of betraying their philosophy and becoming defensive in the run-up to the final.

Wenger is famed for his slick-passing style of play but even he disagreed with Spain often not using a traditional striker although they did not need one in the final.

Fabregas said: “From Arsene? No. I can’t believe he’s said that.

"Everyone sees it the way they want to, but I think we played a fantastic game in the final."

Former Arsenal captain Fabregas who left Emirates after failing to end a six-year trophy drought last season, insists Spain proved all the doubters - including Wenger - wrong.

Fabregas said they are determined to carry on winning with their eyes set on retaining the World Cup, reminding Arsenal of the quality they were lacking during his spell at Emirates.

He said: “I think we have been playing well the last four years. I spoke to Arsene a couple of weeks ago and he told me that without (David) Villa and (Carles) Puyol (both Spanish stalwarts missed the tournament through injury) it could be decisive, but we had some resources.

“Arbeloa played, Sergio Ramos played an excellent tournament at the back, I played up front and, when I wasn’t there, Torres did.

“The good thing about this team is the whole bench - you have Mata and Torres, who were European champions with Chelsea; Llorente, who scored 30 goals this season - is really capable of performing at the top level and this is what makes us a great team.

"I think we have been showing for years that we have a style of play. We believe in what we do and it proves us right."

Next up is Brazil 2014 where Spain can now become the first European team to win the trophy in South America.

Fabregas said: “We will try to do it - but let me enjoy this first.

“One hundred per cent our aim is to continue winning."

Fabregas won't get into comparisons between this Spain team with the great Brazil side that won the 1970 World Cup, preferring to savour their Treble.

He said: “I’ve not really seen much footage of Brazil in 1970. We just want to do well for our country, to keep winning and make people happy during a very difficult period (financially) in Spain."

He's also more focused on filling in the blanks on his own footballing CV.

“I am still missing two things to have the complete package in football: A Champions League and a league title.

"I didn’t win the league at Arsenal or this year at Barcelona, so that’s what I am looking forward to next season.”

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