Cesc Fabregas Fans

Guillem talks to penalty hero Cesc Fabregas following Spain’s dramatic 4-2 shooutout win over Italy in last night’s Euro 2008 quarter final. Spain had previously been eliminated three times from a major tournament on the same date – June 22nd – following a penalty shootout. The Arsenal midfielder describes his emotions as he stepped up to end the jinx and take that final, decisive, penalty kick that would send Spain through to the semi finals…

Guillem Balague: Your Dad thought you weren’t going to take the fifth penalty…

Cesc Fabregas: It must have been a very difficult moment for the family, they were watching it back home, Dad couldn’t come because of work and I am sure it feels worse to watch it on the telly than actually being on the pitch

Guillem: Did you decide to take the fifth one?

Cesc: Nope, the coach came onto the pitch and said the names. I haven’t taken a penalty since I was 15, but I was pretty sure I was going to score this one.

Guillem: Luis Aragones says that he knew you hadn’t taken one for a long time but was sure of the way you hit it and your dependability. That is why you were the chosen one for that important penalty

Cesc: When I heard the fifth was mine I immediately thought it was going to be the decisive one. Anything could have happened but since I was a kid you always think the fifth one is the key. I was calm. We had rehearsed the penalties and it was a good idea to do so.

Guillem: You were talking to yourself on the way to the spot

Cesc: I was saying some stuff…. I was actually saying ‘I have to show everybody, I have to show everybody’.

Guillem: Show your value?

Cesc: It is very difficult to have a place in the line up in this strong team, it’s full of quality and I try to use the opportunities that Luis gives me. I know many people have not trusted my abilities and I thought it was one of those chances life gives you to show the world that you can all put lots of responsibility on my shoulders; that I am ready for it. I wanted to show to everybody that they can rely on me. There has been lots of talk about me being on the bench: about my performances. A goal doesn’t really mean a lot; but for me, at that moment, to walk up to that ball and to hit it the way I hit it…that meant the world

Guillem: That goal does mean a lot, Cesc

Cesc: I know it was important to the team, to the nation, also for me. To be honest everything went well on Sunday. I played in my position: starting from deep and felt very comfortable, touching lots of the ball, looking for one twos, trying to surprise Italy and getting into the box. It is very easy to play with these guys around me.

Guillem: You still feel you have something to prove?

Cesc: I only want to add to the team. I don’t mind playing in the last half an hour of a game or the last five minutes, or not playing at all if that is the best thing for the team. I want glory for Spain and for my team. Luis showed me that he trusts me by choosing me as the fifth penalty taker. That means a lot to me

Guillem: Did you hit it exactly where you wanted?

Cesc: I normally take them in training to the right hand side of the goalkeeper but I saw him jumping in that direction and at the last minute I sent it the other way

Guillem: Did you have information about Buffon and about where to put it? Most of you went low maybe thinking of him being a tall goalie…

Cesc: Not really, everybody has their style and I felt all of us, including Guiza who didn’t score, took it well.

Guillem: Casillas has showed his quality, in case anybody had any doubt

Cesc: He is the best goalkeeper in the world and there was no need to prove that; but as you say, in case he had any doubters they should accept it now. He is one of the biggest personalities in world football, he is going to break many more records and he is only young. It is a great pleasure to have him in the same team. With Spain, teams don’t get too many chances but, when they get close to goal, we don’t defend in numbers and we therefore need his inspiration to save us: as he did against Italy yet again. People say how lucky he is, I say it is not luck, he is brilliant.

Guillem: Did you talk to Buffon?

Cesc: Not directly with him, but I did shake lots of Italian hands. It is an honour to play those competitive games with players like that. They fight till the end, it is the kind of match you dream of playing in big competitions.

Guillem: It is the end of a jinx: Spain have overcome their mental barrier of the quarter finals; of the 88 years without beating Italy, of the penalty shootout…

Cesc: You know? That was mostly press talk or people talking in the bars. It wasn’t something that we had in our minds, it didn’t influence our way of approaching the game. We thought it was a match we had to win, that was all.

Guillem: People in England think Spain played ugly against Italy, is that how you would describe it?

Cesc: We didn’t play ugly, we played well. We were dangerous on the counter, especially in the second half. They looked for the long ball to Luca Toni and second balls, but we played the ball to the feet, we passed, that is our identity. We should have won before the penalties.

Guillem: What was the atmosphere like in the changing room afterwards?

Cesc: We saw the king, everybody was euphoric. It did feel like Spain was celebrating in there at the time. But we haven’t done anything yet. If people think Russia are going to be the same team we played in the group stage, they are very wrong.

Guillem: There were celebrations in Barcelona ending the myth about the negative effect of having different nationalities.

Cesc: In my village in Catalonia, people went out on to the streets. We have never won anything and people had to make up theories of why: stupid ones. All we need to do is to win to make everybody feel part of the success

Guillem: Don’t Russia remind you of Spain in a way?

Cesc: They do. They are young, ambitious, very balanced, offensive and they always go for the victory from minute one. It is going to be a beautiful game. We will keep our style, we are confident and if we also are as effective as in the first game, we will be in the final.

Guillem: What have you learnt in this European Championship?

Cesc: I have learnt to be more patient, to wait for my moment. I get very nervous on the bench, I want to play all the time. But I feel I have matured through this new role. It has taken me a while but I realize how important it is.

Guillem: Back in England, if you believe the rumours Adebayor and Hleb will leave as Flamini did…

Cesc: I am not so sure about Hleb, you know. But it doesn’t matter what will happen, we are a strong team and we have to trust the manager in the decisions he is about to take.

Guillem: Leaders like you, in other teams, ask for more from club owners and managers during the summer.

Cesc: I am nobody to be asking them to do things. I want to be part of a competitive team, that is my only ambition

Guillem: It might help you if Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Manchester United.

Cesc: This last year was a very equal competition. Cristiano was key to the success of Manchester United, they should be very proud of what they achieved. If he goes, I’m sure they will find other solutions. And I would imagine ourselves, Chelsea and Liverpool will be prepared for them.

Source: GuillemBalague.com
Published: 23 June 2008

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