Cesc Fabregas has detailed what was different about playing with Arsene Wenger at Arsenal compared to Pep Guardiola at FC Barcelona.
The former Spanish international had the privilege of playing under arguably two of the most influential managers in modern football, with Wenger transforming virtually every aspect of the English game whilst Guardiola’s tactics changed everything at Barcelona.
Now a coach himself, Fabregas has two dream managers to learn from, with the former Arsenal captain now set to lead Como 1907 into the Serie A next season in what will be one of the more interesting stories in European football.
And Fabregas has now shared what Wenger allowed him to do that Guardiola didn’t.
Fabregas says he had more freedom under Wenger compared to Guardiola
Speaking to BBC Sport, the former Spanish maestro noted that under Wenger he had more freedom to do what he wanted whilst also playing with less pressure, with the Arsenal manager trying to build up Fabregas’ confidence as much as possible.
Indeed, with Fabregas enjoying arguably his best football at Arsenal, it’s clear that Wenger’s methods worked on the former Emirates Stadium captain, though playing under Guardiola could have a bigger role in the Spaniard’s managerial career.
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Fabregas said when asked about the difference between Wenger and Guardiola: “I think Arsene gave me the individual knowledge and freedom to express myself, confidence for a young player is so important, to believe in myself and to give me that first moment of ‘come on, show me what you’ve got.’
“He didn’t put a lot of pressure of me, even when I wasn’t playing well, he would repeat things with me and keep me playing with the top players that Arsenal had at that time. With Pep, I learnt a lot about the tactical side and about the positional game. At Arsenal, I was a little bit more free to do what I want, I was more anarchic. With Pep, I understood the positional play much much better.”
Fabregas can become a great manager if he takes the right lessons from his career
Fabregas has all the tools needed to become part of the next generation of great managers, with the Spanish coach already impressing at Como after their historic promotion back to Serie A.
And taking in the right lessons from Wenger and Guardiola will be key in Fabregas joining the likes of Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso in the next group of coaches who can dominate football for years to come.
Everything is there for Fabregas to succeed as a manager, and having learned under two of the greatest in Wenger and Guardiola, the former Arsenal captain will want to take in the right lessons at this stage in his career.