Chelsea midfielder completes permanent transfer to Monaco

Image result for fabregas hdThe midfielder’s switch to the Ligue 1 club brings the curtain down on his four-and-a-half year Chelsea career, a period in which he won four major trophies, including two Premier League titles.

The Spaniard made 198 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 22 goals.

 

Two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one League Cup. Every major domestic honour ticked off.

An impressive medal haul for any player.Image result for fabregas hd

Fabregas arrived at Stamford Bridge as a European Championship and World Cup-winner with Spain, and at club level the midfielder enjoyed a fruitful period in terms of securing major trophies here at Chelsea, having played an integral role in each of those triumphs.

Possessing a superb range of passing, an eye for goal and the ability to use the ball well under pressure, it comes as no surprise that Fabregas has been such a key figure in the Chelsea midfield over the last four-and-a-half years.

He also deserves great credit for his versatility. Over the course of his time at the club, Fabregas played as a deep-lying midfielder in a 4-2-3-1, as part of a pair in a 3-4-3, further forward in the ‘number 10’ role and, most recently, as the playmaker in a 4-3-3, with his footballing intelligence allowing him to adapt to whatever role he has been asked to fulfil.Image result for fabregas signing hd

The midfielder departs England with the second-highest number of assists in Premier League history, 111, after recently making his 350th appearance in the competition during our game against Southampton, and he was also the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League assists, achieving the feat in just 293 matches.

Fabregas signed in the summer of 2014 as Jose Mourinho sought to add a creative presence in midfield following the departure of club legend Frank Lampard at the end of the previous season.

What marked him out as such a talented player during his time at the club was the fact he refused to take the easy option in possession. On receiving the ball, his first thought was always to try and open up the opposition defence, and he did it so well on countless occasions.

Think of Fabregas’ most memorable assists and immediately there are a few which spring to mind: The first-time half-volley on his debut against Burnley, the ball from deep which allowed Diego Costa to lob Wojciech Szczesny against Arsenal, the stunning incisive clip in behind the Watford defence from which the striker netted the winner against Watford. The list is endless.

His relationship with Diego Costa was a pivotal factor in the success the team enjoyed when the duo played together, while Fabregas’ mental sharpness ensured he enjoyed a fantastic on-pitch understanding with the likes of Eden Hazard, Willian and Pedro, a former team-mate of his with Spain and Barcelona.

Fabregas’ second season at the club was one of collective frustration but the Spaniard was our joint-highest appearance maker, and among the six goals he scored were a late equaliser away at Southampton and a superb free-kick against West Ham in a 2-2 draw at the Bridge.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *