Como coach Cesc Fabregas believes Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham is similar to Chelsea legend Frank Lampard and warns Spain about their Euro 2024 game against Italy: ‘It will be tough.’
The Spanish tactician, who has recently been appointed as Como’s head coach, attended the Golden Boy Award in Turin on Monday, seeing Jude Bellingham receive the award as the best U21 player of the year.
Sky Sport Italia asked Fabregas who his role model is given that he had many successful coaches during his playing career, from Pep Guardiola to José Mourinho and Arsene Wenger.
“It’s hard to say. As a footballer, I always tried to understand what the coaches wanted and the messages in the dressing room,” he replied.
“It’s impossible to be perfect, we have 27-28 players, but only 11 play, so the rest are upset because they don’t play.
“You have to understand everyone’s personality. Some players like private chats, while others need more public chats. I think all players are doing well, they are available to follow our instructions for Como’s good. Results do the talking for a coach.”
Fabregas won two European Championships as a footballer, including one in 2012, beating Italy 4-0 in a Final played in Kyiv.
The Azzurri and La Roja will meet again next year in the Euro 2024 group phase. Does he fear Italy or think Spain are in a better position?
“The main thing is that you have a top coach and quality players,” Fabregas replied.
“You [Italy] have the physicality and the right ideas to face the Euros. Italy have won a lot as a country, so you are accustomed to staying at the top. I believe it will be tough for Spain.”
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has compared Bellingham to Kakà and Zizou Zidane, does Fabregas agree with the Italian tactician?
“If Ancelotti said so, I can only repeat the same,” he said, smiling.
“To me, he is a quality player. Sometimes, you hardly see him on the pitch, but he suddenly gets close to the box and makes the difference, a little bit like Lampard. Sometimes, playing against him [Lampard], I felt he wasn’t playing exactly well, but then, at some point, there was a ball inside the box and he had the right timing to score. This is an important quality. Bellingham scores goals and this is the most important thing in football. He has quality and is always in the right position to move the ball forward. He has a bright future ahead.”
Como currently sit third in the Serie B table, do they target a Serie A promotion?
“We are working on this. We are all trying to raise the bar. The players, the club, the fans, the owners, so we must stick together, like a family, because this can make the difference,” Fabregas concluded.