La Liga - Fabregas reveals Guardiola admiration

Eurosport - Mon, 15 Jun 17:49:00 2009

Cesc Fabregas has again been linked with Barcelona after the Arsenal captain spoke of his admiration for coach Pep Guardiola.

FOOTBALL Barcelona Guardiola - 0

Fabregas come up through the youth ranks at Barca before moving to Arsenal as a 16-year-old in 2003, and the Spain international has been regularly quizzed about a possible return to the Nou Camp over the last few years.

Fabregas admits he holds Guardiola in special regard, saying in Spanish newspaper Sport: "I've always looked up to him. When I was small he was my footballing hero, the player I liked most."

He added: "I've tried to imitate things that he did and as a coach he's shown again what he can do. He is a person who will always be important in my life.

"It's very clear that it would be special (to receive an offer), but I'm also very clear that Arsenal have made me captain, and for that I have added responsibility, which ties me more to the club and gives me greater hopes of lifting a title as captain of the Gunners."

Lifting a title is something no Arsenal captain has managed to do since the FA Cup success of 2005.

Last season Arsene Wenger's side reached the semi-finals of both the Champions League and FA Cup, but ended the season empty-handed.

Fabregas, who is currently with Spain at the Confederations Cup in South Africa, said: "If you don't win titles you cannot be happy, although it's true that we didn't finish badly. It hurt us a bit to lose in the semi-finals of the Champions league and cup. We couldn't take the final step.

"We lack a little to get to finals, like Chelsea in the cup or Manchester United or Barcelona in the Champions League."

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 7 of 7

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. He should stay at the emirate. We need him to lift­ trophies.
    I f he goes to barca he'll be used as­ subtitute like hleb.
    He has good futur in arsenal

    From rabilo1, on Tue 16 Jun 11:14AM

  2. Na cesc does not have any commitment to arsenal. as­ sson as barca or real offers him a deal, he ll be off­ to spain,,,lol,,,suckers

    From mehdi y, on Tue 16 Jun 7:21AM

  3. Im a Barca fan and i think that he wont b going back 2­ Barca this year but if he did it would b great. He just­ became a captain at Arsenal which is a very good club­ in England and i think that if Arsenal doesnt win­ anything this year he could b off 2 Barca next year who­ will b batling money spending Mandril...

    From Aleksandar, on Mon 15 Jun 9:41PM

  4. Oh yes this definately means he's going. Saying you­ admire someone when your a boy always means a player is­ going to leave...
    Idiots. He just reiterated his­ passion for Arsenal and that he is staying here, a few­ days ago. It's just the Media hyping @#$% up­ again...

    From ask me, on Mon 15 Jun 8:24PM

  5. WHAT IS ALL THE FUSS ABOUT HIM AND AM ASERNAL SUPPORTER­ BUT DONT THINK MUCH OF HIM.HE IS NOT EVEN A FIRST TEAM­ PLAYER IN SPAINISH SQUAD.

    From efozia, on Mon 15 Jun 8:11PM

  6. I dont think he is looking for a payrise matt...he has­ already stated his commitment to Arsenal and I for one­ believe he is not going the Barca this year. All he is­ saying is he admires Guardiola and an offer would be­ special, as in a compliment.....not "I'm­ off". I agree he has had a poor seasondespite­ injuries and I would rather he concentrated on his game­ and getting us silverwear

    From corey!, on Mon 15 Jun 7:42PM

  7. Looking for a pay rise are we Cesc?? We lack a bit of­ comitment from our captain. Now shut up, keep your head­ down and start thinking about the start of the­ season...With us..

    From mattfield72, on Mon 15 Jun 6:39PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account