Martin Keown: Cesc Fabregas should show more respect to this at Chelsea
The Arsenal legend reminds the Chelsea midfielder that his big break came in the League Cup in 2003
Martin Keown was critical of Cesc Fabregas for showing disdain towards the League Cup after the Chelsea midfielder was a reluctant substitute in Wednesday night’s 2-1 win over Everton.
The Spain international was required in the second half of Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over rudderless Everton as Fabregas replaced summer signing Danny Drinkwater in the 62 minute.
Fabregas was required to help the defending Premier League champions get over the line with the scoreline at 1-0 when he came on before Willian sealed their progress despite Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s consolation.
The 30-year-old has started seven of Chelsea’s nine Premier League games after he came on as substitute at Stoke back in August after serving a one-game ban for a red card against Burnley in their season opener.
Fabregas could perhaps be forgiven for hoping for one night off given Chelsea’s demanding schedule in the Premier League and the Champions League.
However, Keown pointed out Fabregas’ apparent reluctance to feature in the League Cup and reminded his former team-mate how the competition helped the Spanish midfielder breakthrough at Arsenal in 2003.
“I was critical of Fabregas last night who did not seem too happy at having to play the last half-hour against Everton,” Keown told the Daily Mail.
“Eventually he applied himself — but Fabregas had clearly forgotten that this was the competition that gave him his big break in 2003!”
Fabregas made his Arsenal debut in a 3-1 win against Rotherham United in the League Cup in 2003 before he became the club’s youngest-ever goal-scorer when he netted in a 5-1 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the next round.
