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Cesc Fabregas: No winning mentality, nobody in the team has won anything

Written by Renzo on April 20, 2011 – 4:30

Arsenal Interactive - Squad SelectorCesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas believes the Gunners lack the needed winning mentality to end their six-year trophyless crisis.

Speaking to Spanish magazine Don Balon, the midfielder explained that saying how the beautiful football cancels the lack of trophies is no longer a valid excuse as doing well in all competitions only to crash out when the fun begins means that at some stage you have to decide whether winning trophies is more important than developing players.

According to the Spaniard, the Club has to decide whether they actually want to win trophies or whether their objective is to bring through young players and enjoy economic stability.

Asked why the Gunners are trophyless for so long, the 23-year old replied by saying that the players lack the winning mentality and lack maturity, important factors that come from the fact that besides himself it’s the only Robin van Persie with a trophy under his name with all the others not knowing the difference between winning and not winning.

On Arsenal, Fabregas said:

From 2007 I had already started saying “we’re not winning, but we’re playing well”. And then you realise that’s no use.

You enjoy yourself, during a phase of the championship – like this year, for example, when we were still in four different competitions. And you say to yourself ‘here I have everything!’ But then that final point is missing and it’s then when you have to make a decision: either go out and win or develop players.

It’s different here. The coach is an intelligent person and the club value other things – that the team is always in the Champions League, that they fight until the end, bring through young players, economic stability.

I guess that for the board that is important. Although I imagine there will be a moment when you have to take the plunge – either you win or you don’t win.

[No trophies is] for me it’s more a lack of a winning mentality, also of maturity in key moments. We have plenty of quality but lack this bit of confidence. The problem is that the team needs to win something. That’s why it was so important to win the Carling Cup.

We needed this cup to be able to believe in ourselves as a team. (Robin) Van Persie has won an FA Cup as I have, but there’s no more. Nobody in the team has won anything. We are missing that ability to say: ‘now I know what it is to win and I know what it takes to win’.

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  • biggy says:
    April 20, 2011 at 17:13

    Why exactly would you like our players to go to the media and start criticising ach other? There seems to be absolutely no value in it for us. Quite a lot of us are exaspirated with the situation we find our club in. But there should surely be things that are kept inhouse?

    Reply to this comment »
  • tommy says:
    April 20, 2011 at 4:48

    Cesc throws down the gauntlet. Someone had to do it. You know the great players on the squad have been thinking this for a while. It wouldn’t surprise me however to see Cesc come out in the next day or two and say he was misquoted. Wenger must be fuming that his captain comes out and basically says Arsenal are a training academy and not in the business of trying to win

    Reply to this comment »
    • arvind says:
      April 20, 2011 at 5:34

      Fab spoke the truth. Now its in the hands of the management to do something. No more youth project. Restore Arsenal to the winning ways and tradition that it has had.

      I swear sometimes I think this team is more a business than any thing else. If the players feel this way, ( Cesc) then it speaks volumes of the lack of confidence of the players to win.

      If Fab leaves, then so be it. at least he spoke the truth and was brave enough to do it.

      Get wenger out. No more yes men, who do not know how to adapt with the times. Its time for a major shake up.

      Reply to this comment »
      • A.M says:
        April 20, 2011 at 5:50

        Well said tommy and arvind. But personally, I think Fabs chance of leaving next season is almost gone. We have the financial stability to say NO and we dont need to cash, Barca cant stump up 50 million and its only a case of Fab holding the club to ransom for the move, which I hope he wouldnt. Now with the new ownership and all, its time for the board to return the faith to its players like Fab and V Persie. It took a lot of guts for Fab to come out and say this, especially in a time like this but someone had to do it. He is the captain so its his duty to do so. Anyone can try and instill change, from top to bottom, but the only stumbling block remains which is Arsene. If he doesnt choose to change, then nothing will. Its as simple as that.

        Reply to this comment »
        • Paddy O'Neill says:
          April 20, 2011 at 14:13

          Yes I agree with you, it did take guts to come out and say what others are thinking, but on the eve of a match with our rivals in N. London, was that the time to say it when the team is lacking confidence anyway.

          Cesc is a very good player but does anyone think he will walk straight into the Barca team, I think not. Remember TH and Hleb did not. OK Cesc is a much better player than Hleb (who wants to come back lol) but the bench at Barca is a lonely place.

          That said don’t hang onto him if he wants to go which he does. Remember the back heel at Barca – that was a mistake wasn’t it.

          If AW goes who replaces him – not Mourhino or Guardiola – those managers want big money to spend and Arsenal will not provide it – they never have. I don’t know of any other manager in the Prem who could do a job without money to spend. Lets face it Arsenal need to get rid of at least 6 of the deadwood.

          Reply to this comment »
          • Dave says:
            April 20, 2011 at 14:47

            I couldn’t care if Cesc fits in at Barcelona or not, what matters to me is losing the player who Wenger built the team around for the past six years. If he goes, Wenger will have to start again, meaning more trophyless seasons.

            Why can’t either Mourinho or Guardiola replace Wenger? Mourinho express that he wants to return to England sometime in the future and Guardiola hinted he could leave Barcelona on 2012. Wenger been paid £6 million a year, so I think if the board wants a manager that can win trophies, I can see them willing to pay a bit more than what they pay Wenger. As for this no money to spend, for the past two seasons Wenger spend £25 million on defenders and yet we still having defensive problems. So this no money to spend is a myth. Wenger just want to develop youngsters to satisfy his big ego when he does a develop a world class player, but the problem is he develops more lemons than actual quality players for the past six years.

            Reply to this comment »
      • wengerson says:
        April 20, 2011 at 6:58

        if wenger leaves then it will be nother 4 -5 years before we win something cause a lot of the good players will leave with him that being said fabregas is right it is stable now no excuses lets bring players to win things

        Reply to this comment »
        • yash says:
          April 20, 2011 at 7:08

          cesc is leaving guys.honestly, why would he want to saty in such a club where the manager said he wouldn’t mind being runners up!!!his house is for sale and you wonder why!!

          Reply to this comment »
        • Dave says:
          April 20, 2011 at 7:40

          The likes of Adebayor, Flamini, Hleb, Diarra, Edu and Vieira left Arsenal when Wenger was manager, so how can you say that the current players won’t leave just because Wenger is the manager? If a manager who is both respectable and who knows how to win trophies was brought in to replace Wenger, I don’t think there’s going to be a mass exodus of players leaving, apart of selling the useless players on the club.

          Reply to this comment »
        • Stillagooner says:
          April 20, 2011 at 8:55

          Cesc probably wouldn’t say this if he didn’t know he was leaving already. If he says this and he stays, it will be a testament to his lack of leadership. He is the captain and part of his job is to instill this winning mentality not moan about it. He is the best passer of the ball by far but, not the best of captains.

          Reply to this comment »
          • cemboise says:
            April 20, 2011 at 9:23

            I don’t think Feb is moaning but instead revealing what exactly is going on in the “youth training club”, someone had to break the silence guys. i think the huge stumbling block for arsenal to win a trophy is arsene himself. he needs to be sacked immediately and replaced with a coach with title vision.

            Reply to this comment »
      • Kay-Bloggo says:
        April 20, 2011 at 14:15

        If Wenger goes,more than 7 players will too….This is not the time to have that…Lets see what happens instead on the transfer market…For the last time..Lets give him at least one more chance….With Mr.Kroenke in place lets see how things will be in the next transfer window and then make our judgements from then..

        Reply to this comment »
        • Dave says:
          April 20, 2011 at 14:50

          Wenger has stated just because Kroenke is in doesn’t mean he will change his system. So expect more of the same from Wenger.

          Reply to this comment »
    • kelly says:
      April 20, 2011 at 10:01

      first there is nothing wrong with the youth system but there is a problem with the players graduated in the last three seasons, bar this season.if young players hit the ground running like ramsey,gibbs and szczesny then its okay. but if you graduate mediocre players like song, bendtner,denilson and diaby and still insist on playing them,then you have perennial chokers and eternal mediocrity and that frustrates top players like van persie and fabregas.btn nobody complains when top quality players are graduated and you can bet messi,iniesta,xavi enjoyed playing wilshere and szczesny.

      Reply to this comment »
      • john-greek says:
        April 20, 2011 at 13:32

        Song is not a mediocre player my friend,you should know that..

        Reply to this comment »
      • Dave says:
        April 20, 2011 at 14:53

        I don’t really see what’s the hype on Gibbs. I hope he will come good but every game he played this season, he get worse. The problem with Wenger’s youth policy is he develops more mediocre players than players like Wilshere.

        Reply to this comment »
  • Gunner 4 life says:
    April 20, 2011 at 4:55

    now he says that and validate what all of us gunners have been saying all along. Not enough experience. Not enough Balance and physical strenght. Wenger here you go. Board here you go. Stop increasing ticket prices, instead spent some money finally.

    Reply to this comment »
  • arvind says:
    April 20, 2011 at 5:28

    Even if you leave us Cesc, thank you thank you so much for coming out with this comments. it is the truth and it takes a lot of guts to come out and say essentially what most fans have been thinking for years. Ive been disappointed with Fabs leadership skills overall but this took guts, albeit it was in a Spanish interview, but it was the truth.

    Im sure he will come out and say he was misquoted after a talk in the bosses office in the morning.

    One thing is that Cesc does not mention Clichy, who is the only invincible left on the team. GC has been in there just like Cesc and RVP. Even longer actually.

    Im hoping for a massive shake up at the club. From top to bottom things are not working.

    I hope AW listens to his captain. If he does leave, the backlash will hit all time high with the fans. Cesc spoke the truth, now do something about it Wenger.

    Reply to this comment »
    • pdxArsenal says:
      April 20, 2011 at 9:14

      its not like the board and Wenger did not know Cesc opinion but I think he showed his weakness wispering back in Spain after this Arsenal academy made him who he is. Cesc is captain and I can count 2-3 games this entire seson where he played well but rest of it was very mediocre, whom to blame for that. Wilshere won nothing yet but he is Arsenal most motivated player and I guess youngest. Fabregas, RVP, Clichy, Arshavin – all won some kind of trophies what else do you need to lead the team?
      It would be funny if Arsene sell him non-Spanish team but Wenger is too intelegent to do so. It is my strong opinion that Cesc is big part of Arsenal weakness. Yes, he is very good player but he showed no interest to win anything.

      Reply to this comment »
  • Vellentine says:
    April 20, 2011 at 5:30

    WENGER OUT,I HAVE LOST PATIENCE WITH OUR COACH.

    Reply to this comment »
  • Fonz678 says:
    April 20, 2011 at 5:34

    Im somewhat glad to see the players voicing their opinions and acknowledging certain realities rather than defending everything hopelessly.

    Chesney, Dj experessed their dissapointments on the teams below par performance in the liverpool game. And now Fab’s making comments about the varying priorities of the club.

    Acknowledging these things are actually good imo inorder to move forward, irrespective of whether Fab wants to stay at the club or not, i still like hearing these acknowledgements/opinions as a fan.

    Reply to this comment »
  • yonald says:
    April 20, 2011 at 6:17

    “that the team is always in the Champions League, that they fight until the end, bring through young players, economic stability.

    I guess that for the board that is important.” Cesc Said

    So basically it’s not AW’s fault, he just worked his best and followed what his employer wants, which is the board. If the board wants to win; then, AW will deliver trophies definitely, but the board has a different opinion. Am I right?

    Reply to this comment »
    • Spectrum says:
      April 20, 2011 at 6:54

      No, you’re wrong. The board have said for the last two seasons, Wenger has been given the money to strengthen the team should he need it. He chose not to.Instead sticking desperately to his policy of developing the kids. Well that obviously hasn’t worked.
      The board does not, and should not, interfere with the running of the team itself. If they did, no manager would tolerate it.So the youth policy was Wenger’s own pet project.It’s failed, and through his neglect in correcting the deficiencies in the team, and his tactical ineptitude, we are set to miss out again for the seventh season in a row.Even Cesc sees it, and has spoken out.

      Reply to this comment »
  • mano'gunner says:
    April 20, 2011 at 6:48

    Finally our captain voices out.
    Now I’m interested in Wenger’s reply. He was asked the same thing in previous press conferences about similar comments from fans and he more or less said that the fans don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes and our opinions are not relevant as long as everyone involved in the club know what they’re doing. Well someone influential in the club just said the same thing

    Reply to this comment »
    • Spectrum says:
      April 20, 2011 at 7:07

      I, too would be interested.But does Wenger EVER accept ANY responsibility for the club’s failings ? He always blames anything and everyone except himself. He can’t be humble enough to accept his philosophy and policies have failed.
      Wenger is an honourable man.Prove it then, by resigning, and offering the club the chance of a fresh start.But then if he did, I doubt the board would accept it. Was it Gazidis who just said “we back Arsene 100% ?”. This is the same board that extended his contract for another four years – before waiting to see how this season would be any different to the previous six ! But then if your yardstick for success is how much profit you make, instead of trophies, why would they ?

      Reply to this comment »
  • Leon says:
    April 20, 2011 at 6:57

    Gunner 4 Life i agree with you with all but one of your points – experience. The likes of Fabregas, Van Persie, Arshavin, Nasri, Vermaelin, Djourou, Clichy et al have all played Premier League, European and International football for years so experience is not an issue. The issue here is Wenger, his tactics and his ability to motivate his players and lead by example – you saw how he behaved on Sunday and has behaved like this for the last three years. It is no wonder we fail. Wenger needs to grow up admit that his project has failed then ship out the deadwood in his team and in his backroom staff (rice and the physio team being prime candidates) and then revert to the tactics he used when he first came in – tall order yes but if this continues he is doomed because people will lose interest in paying nearly £100 to watch the team failing at every hurdle.

    Reply to this comment »
  • Dave says:
    April 20, 2011 at 7:33

    If Wenger wants to keep Cesc, he should buy the quality experienced players we needed for the past few seasons. This summer stop being so stingy, Wenger. If our youth policy is so successful we would have more players like Wilshere instead we get Denilson, Diaby, Bendtner, etc.

    Reply to this comment »
  • willliammm says:
    April 20, 2011 at 7:34

    We need to keep this team together. We are young and will just getting better and better. AW CESC won’t leave.. This teams going to be a giant in the future

    Reply to this comment »
    • Paddy O'Neill says:
      April 20, 2011 at 14:21

      This team is getting older not younger like all of us. Aw has been saying for years “the team is young” that was six years ago. 24 or 25 is not “young” for a player.

      Reply to this comment »
  • SeattleGooner says:
    April 20, 2011 at 7:38

    To me this is one of two things. Either (a) Cesc has finally said “enough” and as captain is expressing the views of himself and his fellow squadmates; or (b) Cesc has decided the time is right to move on and has decided to burn a few bridges to lessen the resistance to a move this summer.

    I believe (a) is the case. To me, cesc’s comments were a player finally embracing his role as a leader at this club. The comments about Puyol helped put my mind at ease, as it sounds as if Cesc has realized he has time to achieve great things, and that a Barca move right now may be a case of the grass looking greener.

    Cesc is spot on here. Arsenal don’t need a new manager, but our manager does need a new perspective. The comment that always sticks in the back of my head like an annoying echo is the interview Cesc did before the world cup last year. Asked about training with the Spanish national squad, he commented about the different approach taken between club and country. He talked about how at Arsenal, the team doesn’t prepare for opponents; instead they focus only on perfecting their own playstyle.

    My first thought after reading that was: “I bet SAF and Mourinho gameplan for their opponents. Look at united. They approach each game the same philosophically, but tactically every game is very unique. And you can be dam sure they game plan against us.

    Reply to this comment »
    • tommy says:
      April 20, 2011 at 18:35

      Well said. I think we would tumble down the table if Wenger leaves–possibly win something the first year or two if a mercenary like Mourinho came in, but then they would leave and we would probably turn into one of those upper mid table teams that changes managers every two years. I agree Wenger does need a new perspective. Probably the reason Arsenal doesn’t plan for their opponents is because Wenger imagines them keeping possession the entire game, or most of it, which might explain why we are also so poor on set pieces and general defending. If that is the case I don’t know what to say. I find that almost unbelievably arrogant. But if he would just adapt a little. That would be the best scenario or becoming director of player development and turning over the team to a coach like Deschamps

      Reply to this comment »
  • PaulK says:
    April 20, 2011 at 9:00

    Enough! Give the vocal fans what they want: either a debt burdened shopping spree or struggling to make Champions League like everyone below us in the league.

    The good news about getting a new manager is our results will likely be worse (no-one except Ferguson can match Wenger’s record) and that will burn off the fair-weather, non loyal supporters. We need to get back to the core, loyal fans who were happy and proud before Wenger came to Highbury & established himself as the most successful Arsensal manager. Man U has legions of fans who have never been to Manchester and only support the team because they win the most games. Those are the types of fans we need to get rid of.

    Reply to this comment »
    • Paddy O'Neill says:
      April 20, 2011 at 14:25

      I agree with you – keep AW but get him to change his perspective. Does he even listen to the fans, does he bother to listen to the players.

      Reply to this comment »
  • dimlight says:
    April 20, 2011 at 9:23

    Hahaha Fab, dont forget u r z outcome of wenger’s youth policy. This comment should come from people like Arshvin who are from the other side of the flip.

    Reply to this comment »
    • Chris says:
      April 20, 2011 at 9:28

      Cesc is not critical of Wenger’s youth policy, he’s just asking questions on the persistence of such policy.

      And rightly so.

      Reply to this comment »
      • D.Villa says:
        April 20, 2011 at 14:36

        Yeah the persistence that brought us Wilshere and Sczesny

        Reply to this comment »
  • Alpha T says:
    April 20, 2011 at 10:59

    But persisting with the policy is what made Cesc what he is today, how many gooners were concerned that Cesc wasn’t a good enough replacement for Paddy? And unfortunately how true!

    What I find baffling is as Cesc is our captain can’t he view his concerns to Arsene?

    If the board, players, media and fans can’t influence Wenger, then we are well and truly f*cked

    Reply to this comment »
    • Chris says:
      April 20, 2011 at 11:03

      I will rephrase.

      What I mean is persisting with youth only, no experienced players, as well as persisting with players who failed too many times to keep their place in the starting 11.

      Reply to this comment »
      • Jon Toral says:
        April 20, 2011 at 16:20

        I dont think there is anyone in our first 11 who has failed too many times unless you are refering to Arshavin(I rmb he was dropped). The problem is not having substitutes who are challenging the first 11.
        It seems Cesc doesnt know his team mates well because Chamakh, Rosicky,Squillaci,Arshavin and Sagna are experienced players who won trophies in their former clubs but we fans want 4 out of these 5 players sold and the likes of Hazard,Cahill and Vertonghen bought.
        Yet these players that top every fans wish list are not experienced and have not won anything either.

        Personally if you ask me to choose between Djourou who joined arsenal aged 16/17 and has never won anything and Squillaci who is experienced and has won about 5 trophies my vote will definitely go to Djourou, I would even go further and choose 19 y/o Bartley ahead of him.

        My point is, Cesc seems to be making excuses for his shortcomings as a captain, I look at Wilshere and Vermaelen and I see real winners and yet they dont have a full bag of winners medals.
        It is all Wenger’s fault for replacing Viera with him,building this team around him and making him a captain.

        Reply to this comment »
    • Dave says:
      April 20, 2011 at 14:20

      At least Cesc had the privilege of playing with the likes of Vieira, Bergkamp and Henry where he can learn something from them, but this current team have no winners because Wenger is adamant in buying youngsters (most of them will be sold eventually) and sticking with players that are not good enough to play for the club for past six years.

      Reply to this comment »
  • toni says:
    April 20, 2011 at 14:57

    youth policy is good and did not fail. what failed is wengers pride and stubbornness. He should have made few quality introductions and removed the obvious but NO it must work they way it was originally planned. We have a good squad and credit goes to wenger but all (including FAB) can see that the good squad is not adequate. something is missing boss fix it or get fixed.

    Reply to this comment »
    • arvind says:
      April 21, 2011 at 5:59

      the youth policy has failed miserably. sorry

      Reply to this comment »
  • Change says:
    April 20, 2011 at 19:53

    Nothing will change unless wenger goes. He’s shown that he’s out of ideas already, clueless in team selection, tactics, substitution, always talks the same old same old crap excuses and blame game.. Tell me, which top team in the world will actually tolerate almunia, much less keep him in the squad? Crap manager keeps crap players.

    Reply to this comment »
  • wubGooner says:
    April 21, 2011 at 17:26

    Brave Cesc, the critics are gonna say, well Cesc himself was also a youth …. But, yes, he is a young winner , not as lazy as Denilson, as weak and raw as Theo, as late and misfiring as Clichy, as error-infested as Aluminia/Scqullaci/….Had he had the right players, he himself was already up there since 2007. You remember how he beat Juventus, how he scored against AC milan. AFC is not a testing ground for pilot project for every French and British boy that will eventually turn out unproductive.

    Reply to this comment »
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