Fabregas: How Data and Statistics Have Changed Football

[@Sedge63]

This confirms to me 100% why I invariably find myself getting up and doing other tasks while a football game is on the TV. I used to watch the whole game without moving from the chair. The modern game is robotic, soulless, pre determined and totally lacking in freedom to innovate. I am 61, a lifelong Arsenal supporter. Fabregas and most of his contemporaries were a joy to watch. The refereeing today is a disgrace too. The humanity has been taken out of the modern game and as Cesc says here they do for the most part look and act like pre programmed robots.

[@c.v.v]

i rarely watch games anymore.. i simply watch the youtube highlights.. the game is no longer same and no longer fun to watch

[@abody499]

watch Real Madrid to see something looser and more down to the players. Lately I've been seeing a lot of football that is pretty mind blowing. But unfortunately the refereeing point is completely correct. Enjoying the physical side of the game, the things I'm seeing fouls given for these days makes my heart sink. Sometimes bookings are given without contact made. Sometimes they're given when the contact is on the ball, even when it's only on the ball. And I'd say the EPL referees are better than la liga by a long way.

[@carrauntoohil86]

When I do watch now it is more out of habit than anything. I understand everything evolves over time, but football has lost something. The real flair players are not there anymore, that is coached out of them and they have to play a more conservative role for the good of the team and results. Looking back even to the 90's and watching Bergkamp, Cantona, Zola, Le Tissier e.t.c it was exciting to watch and what made the game special. Now days that is largely gone, still very talented players but they're not able to show it as much.

[@Mikeangelguitar]

Me too. I don't look football anymore is so boring now

[@IWTBF]

They don’t let players play and dictate a game anymore 😢

[@beausmith9247]

Man im so glad to hear this, couldn't agree more, think football entering academia was the start of many problems, too much focus on stats and theory, human creative factor is completely lost

[@carltonlambert7608]

And also with that the element of suprise.

[@shake1494]

Dennis Bergkamp was critical of the academy style set ups too in his book. He talks about how the academies suck out the creativity from players at an early stage. Modern day Ajax fell for the same trap and ironically Ajax was renowned for their youth setups. He talks about how rigid players are mentally. How they play like they learned football from a textbook.

[@beausmith9247]

@shake1494 Interesting, think Bergkamp along with Cantona are prime examples of how wrong it's gone, in fact apart from Cole Palmer what's the point, but I think the mental rigidity is a general societal and generational reflection

[@logitech7989]

KAI is the most stats guy in pl. Null with the ball, no creativity.

[@Mart-B]

Liverpool won the premier league using stats to sign players, and Firmino specifically was signed because his stats as a no.10 in the Bundesliga were good enough to use him as a false 9. Brighton and Brentford are the two other big stats clubs and they've signed plenty of creative players. Stats have just become a scapegoat. A bigger culprit for the game becoming more boring is Pep's impact on playing styles.

[@emilinhopeterson]

One of the best football interviews I've seen lately. Couldn't agree more with Fabregas.

[@njongomato]

Definitely!

[@Walkens-z9k]

Exactly what happened to Brazilian football too. The creativity is gone

[@ppate8]

indeed

[@finfog4590]

I’d argue the talent is gone

[@AngeAries]

All ftbl, not just Brazilian .

[@Skumtomten1]

Nah that has more to do with increased wealth, social media and the lazy generation without work ethic

[@ngsiam3213]

Cafu.....we can blame EPL

[@ehmp-gl7yn]

Imagine living and working in one of the most fascinating venues in the world, without the incumbent pressure of winning at all costs, but being backed by the wealthiest owners in the whole serie A. This man is living his best life!

[@yrtepgold]

Thank you for posting this interview. I always admired Fabregas as a player, always professional, always seemed to be understanding the game at such a high level. This was a treat to hear his thoughts.

[@samuelangol595]

As an Arsenal fan, I've always admired Fabregas, and I agree with everything he says. My older brother and I frequently talk about how skill and creativity are being choked out of the modern game. I've been watching the game for over 30 years and him over 40. We both feel that modern players are more athletes than footballers -- that is a subtle yet important difference. There was a time when there were many "artists" at the highest level of professional football, guys who could improvise and decide a game thanks to a stroke of genius. These types of players are increasingly rare because modern coaches tend to prefer those who merely follow instructions and who do not think outside the box. "Obedient" players are easier to control, and let's face it, managers can be control freaks. Ideally, a manager should want a team composed of players who follow instructions AND also those who can work their way out of unforeseen circumstances or create something out of nothing. It's a question of empowerment. If young players are trained to think that they have innate inabilities to come up with solutions on their own, then over time, they will develop those qualities. Football tends to work in cycles, and I suspect that in time, creative players will begin to thrive again.

[@onedmncliv]

Couldn't agree with you more Samuel, as a fellow Arsenal fan - you've nailed it.

[@Emmanuel.RLamira]

Low-key this explains why Arsenal has no x factor player

[@KarmaWords]

The players are the ARTISTS and their creativity and freedom shouldn’t be so limited

[@EmpireOfLEMBERG]

That s why we hace futsal 😊 If people want to see skills and dribbls they should watch futsal instead. See how life s simple but we act like heroes on utube??

[@njongomato]

Well said!

[@MW92.]

What about ronaldo and the like of Bruno fernandes who’s artistry is diving and whinging

[@lmaolaughmyassout7988]

@@EmpireOfLEMBERGat the end of the day Football is a sport , a source of entertainment it’s not wrong to desire certain things from it

[@ammarkhalil34v]

Players arent artists. They have goals.

[@georgenjoroge6243]

This is a profound talk

[@MarkellsTing]

When we tell younger fans football was miles more entertaining 90s-2010s it's not just old men shouting at clouds. We genuinely where used to seeing the rare instances of flair or entertaining individuality these kids get excited about, like every game pretty regularly. E.g I see kids go crazy for a Doku feint. This was something we saw every winger dime a dozen do and get to the byline to cross a ball every game. I do hope the pendulum swings back to creativity. Because the idea that someone like A Ronaldinho, Okocha Riquelme probably is in a youth team and doesn't get played or make it because he doesn't have the right running stats is actually heart breaking

[@leew11k]

So glad you said riquelme you know your football 😊

[@ppate8]

2010? it was already bad at this point.

[@FabianZettl]

Peak Football was 2006-2012 yes ❣️

[@leew11k]

@@FabianZettl nice top 👌

[@LexWil7]

Well, you are taking 2 things for granted. First, players, especially defenders, have exponentially gotten better over time. Raw talent doesn't grow on trees, and it's pretty expensive at that, but in a team sport, other factors can compensate for skill such as positioning, strength, speed, intelligence and so on. At the end of the day, you win by maximizing your strengths and minimizing your weaknesses so a team may lack individual talent but may remain competitive by remaining organized and cohesive. Second, the players you mentioned were inconsistent in their performance and arguably, except for Ronaldinho, underwhelming in terms of achievements. Granted, maybe they were not aiming for being in some all-time best rank, but these hyper creative players often lack the discipline to give their teams a competitive edge in the long run so from an elite team's perspective which owners invest huge amounts of money to maintain, its probably better to have a mix of skillful players and also middle class/role players to assemble a solid team.

[@razor23Ukraine]

It was a very interesting point regarding bringing one more defender for the last 10-15 mins and how it might impact the psychological state. Very insightful.

[@FrankBudino]

Como plays good football, Fabregas always gives great interviews, he's actually maybe the only one who gives really important insights into today's game, as many other "similar" interviews are not so specific with things...

[@malcomxochieng9257]

Sarri like

[@juanpablovillacuravasquez7117]

Listen to Argentina's coaching staff, Scaloni, Aimar.... They have been saying the same thing since before winning the World Cup and now.

[@N4t4Iy3]

I also hope he can revive Dele Alli . Such a nice person to give someone a second chance!

[@ppate8]

@@juanpablovillacuravasquez7117Argentina is against Fraudiola and his robotic football

[@patwilliam242]

@@juanpablovillacuravasquez7117 They still play very Robotic, Colombian national team on the other hand my be one of the only sides in Football that plays attractively atm.

[@TobiMesh]

What he's talking about is why I love Ancelloti. He trusts his players and let's them play. Empowers them to figure it out and do the business on the pitch. I'm glad he's still enjoying success in this data driven / tactical emphasis era

[@brenb70]

Easy to just trust your players when they are all world class…

[@TobiMesh]

@brenb70 If you don't allow them play, they don't become world class. Pirlo didn't come into his own until he played for Ancelloti. It's not like players like Kaka and even Velverde, Vini J and Rodrigo in today's Madrid, came to him at world-class level. He doesn't tie his players to tactical dogma. Instead he adapts to the players

[@haihao2942]

@@TobiMesh Vini is a world-class "Talent". he moved to Madrid for 40 milion when he's young.. Valverde, zidane is the one that's giving him break through.. Same as rodrygo if im not mistaken it's 2019/2020 prior to ancelotti.. He doesn't tie his players to tactical dogma. Instead he adapts to the players > this statement might be true, but it doesn't mean that the football itself doesn't evolve.. the data driven and tactical emphasis era is still here it's just ancelotti uses the data to create a tactical suited to the player's strength. While Guardiola for example, he brings player either buying/ from academy that matches his system and tactical plan/data. But this doesn't mean that ancelloti allows like 90's or early 00 football creativity , where there're still room for tricks and feint here and there. Football for sure has become more efficient and direct

[@KingKong-ee8hc]

Football is like fashion, tactics and styles go through cycles

[@dobianuli2742]

Hope they stop this bs trend

[@caglarcamkiran5788]

one of the best interviews from fabregas he is absolutely right!

[@st2505]

Totally agree. I played at high level 30 years ago and now coach . He totally gets it. Great interview

[@hiramhackenbacker9096]

This is life now. Corporations have centralised power. Now all employees must follow what the senior managers deem "best practise".Procedures must be followed to the letter and employees are monitored to ensure they do this. HR departments used to play a supportive role to senior management now they have a central role. There is no place for creativity or spontaneity by the employees. It's all about control.

[@iwantgoals1566]

This is defo one of those interviews to watch again. Great insight with a beautiful back drop like Como’s home ground. Love that the interviewer mostly got out of Cec’s way and just let him talk.

[@rafikz77]

That backdrop is super relaxing I want to play football there lol

[@Mrdorf14]

The game has become more like American Football. Stats and data oriented.

[@0matters]

cuz most big clubs are owned by Americans now. They demonize Abramovich but he's 1 of the best owners ever

[@gokuvegeta9500]

You people are overlooking the data and AI role football has and just finding a space goat in Americans

[@scottb32a]

@@0matters probably becasue of the all the people he had killed

[@Monaleenian]

@@gokuvegeta9500 *scapegoat, but yes, you're right.

[@russelconor8704]

I was talking about the same thing years ago! The tragedy is that the street football culture is disappearing when this is the culture that gave us the most iconic geniuses in the history of football. I remembered that's exactly how Cristiano started too! He played with older guys, the 16, 17, and 18-year-olds in Madeira, and was constantly kicking ball and training on Maderia's twisted roads that meander between volcanic mountains. This is why he was such a pure, skillful entertainer in his young days until he had healthy legs for it. This is the type of old-school, creative, and tough learning process that most talented and iconic footballers have gone through, and unfortunately, it's disappearing now. Today, kids mainly practice from a young age, in well-equipped youth academies, where everything is organized so that it goes 'smoothly'. The irony is, that sometimes this type of environment is 'too perfect' and 'too smooth'. It doesn't allow kids to encounter real difficulties on their way and consequently doesn't teach them how to overcome these obstacles. It doesn't help develop a good, sporty, strong mentality. Learning on the street is much harder, and requires hard work, character, and creativity from the beginning because you don't have the equipment or the professional help, you only have your own body& brain, and the street. It's better for footballing development than the academy, skill-wise and mentality-wise. This is exactly why the greatest geniuses and the most iconic legends in the history of football were always street footballers, coming from street culture. I believe the last generation to benefit from street culture is exactly the Cristiano/Iniesta/Rooney generation, specifically those born in the mid-80s. The reason is that this is the last generation whose adolescence occurred during a time when there were still no phones, laptops, TVs, and social media everywhere in our lives, allowing kids to play outside more often. Nowadays, we produce perfect robots in academies, but rarely the interesting, creative characters and geniuses that street football gave us!

[@CatoNumbla]

brilliant comment!! this!

[@PazLeBon]

Lolol are you over 60?

[@IWTBF]

Yes it crazy, now they have goalkeeping academies for under 9s. Like what!! 😮 No one ever wanted to go in goal and now they have academies for pre teens. Frightening

[@utkarshsrivastava7873]

That' what makes madrid unpredictable as mentioned by klopp and pep in their clashes as they can adapt more quickly to what the game demands although sometimes it backfires, but the character and intelligence of each and every player to turn up when evrything is going south makes madrid unstoppable. Ancelotti is undoubtedly best manager as he understands which players to give freedom and how to extract best out of guven players.

[@dajo1518]

The beauty of real sensational football with character, skills, passion, creativity, courage, pushing boundaries and with technique is gone. The great football and players is coming to the end this way. It’s sad😢 Freedom is for everyone, everywhere and in everything. Freedom, the best way there is.

[@roboi2241]

If people wanted stats and data, they would all flock to the nearest library on a Saturday afternoon

[@Kitofthearts]

Great interview, and looking forward to understanding his team's output & style. Smart creative & confidence inspiring. Speaks the same "football language" as me.

[@nobaso620]

Your manager is the gamer holding controls and players are just NPCs.

[@hakssah3597]

Great perspective!! This is why ancelotti will keep winning at Madrid trusting players know how to do what needs to be done and that’s why zidane won 3 champions leagues

[@elmohuaerte6082]

Ancelotti probably the best coach ever

[@Jm20-m]

lol both had systems in place what r u smoking

[@GNMbg]

@@Jm20-m of course they have systems, wtf is your point ? Ancelotti himself says in his book that he prefers to give players freedom to make decisions on the pitch and express themselves especially in the final third of the pitch

[@juanpablovillacuravasquez7117]

Scaloni too

[@whackeryounis]

@@Jm20-mwell everyone has systems/tactics but ancelotti is known to be more of a man manager and gives players more freedom whereas pep is had an incredibly rigid system. These aren't rumours, it's just facts. Players who have played under various managers will tell you their style and it's not difficult to find players who have under him that will back up he's not a system player like pep or Conte etc.

[@drama772]

I stopped watching football in the early 2000s I saw how it was going. Watching football throughout the 80s, 90s was spectacular.

[@TrueFilter]

The characters are gone as well on and off the pitch.

[@drama772]

@TrueFilter 100% mate, and a lot of today's footballers think they're bigger than the club. Funny thing is, they couldn't lace older players boots.

[@DylanHEREMANS]

​@drama772 you definitely right

[@clockworkslave0180]

it was still good in the early 2000s but late 2000s it started getting boring

[@MB98164]

2000s and 10s was still good, it’s been shit since 2020 roughly for me

[@milansokolovski3033]

I love this interview. Thank you. Seeing football go toward the direction it has, as Cesc has mentioned, is what is inspiring me to dream of becoming a manager. Without listening to him before, he has described exactly what I have seen and interpreted as an issue, and how the more organic, creative, and sensory side of football needs to find a way back into the game. Less 2D tactical thinking, more 3D contextual thinking. Game plans which aren't systematic and like iron cages, but modular and adaptable.

[@bulentkarakis]

wow Fabregas is making great remarks, sounds like he is going to make a great coach

[@Kitofthearts]

for Arsenal too, fingers crossed!

[@clockworkslave0180]

its like how formula one used to be exciting in the 90s and then technology made it more stale. they race to a higher level but its not as fun to watch. same thing happened to football

[@that3401]

You're just a oldhead buddy

[@clockworkslave0180]

@ does that mean im right or wrong? engage with my comment, any commentary on whether im old or young has nothing to do with my point

[@johnmitchell2269]

A simple game has been made more and more complex over the years with more rules and more instructions and more stats. I remember when a goal Argentina scored in the 2006 world cup was celebrated (by the commentators and the wider football world) because there was something like 29 consecutive passes leading up to the goal. It's all a matter of perspective but that approach never impressed or excited me. The 2010 world cup final when Heitinga got sent off for the Netherlands, Spain took off Torres and went 4-6-0 (against 10 men). The counter attacking Man Utd team of 07/08 with Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney, that was good to watch. Arsenal from 99 to 2006 were a joy to watch. Rui Costa, Guti, Van Der Vaart, David Villa, Robben, Di Maria, Cazorla, David Silva, Riquelme, Crespo. These were the players I enjoyed watching.

[@milansokolovski3033]

Let's not forget Figo, Zidane, Kaka, Seedorf, Ozil, and so on. Completely agree. I can appreciate a goal with many passes and team build up play, a few Arsenal goals from the late Wenger era with Wilshere, Ramsey, Ozil, etc. But these are magical in their own right because they combined tiki taka with wonderful creativity and skill. That one where Giroud and Wilshere combine with flicks and intricate 1-2 play around the edge of the box was just sensational to watch. But it doesn't come out that way when you try to plan it in so much detail ahead of time.

[@CatoNumbla]

And this is exactly what modern game is missing - the magic. Cristiano from 2003 to 2015 was a pure joy to watch, but he had to leave his natural pure winger/entertainer drive and his amazing skills behind to adapt to his age, specifically to his destroyed legs (he has suffered from chronic tendinosis in his knees since late 2014) plus to the demands of the modern game which exactly relies on more and more games being played, so on more physical side and stats. This is not the players' fault but all these white-collar football executives who want and organize more and more games, solely due to their greediness! I mean players' union has been protesting this and talking about this for a long time, Cristiano himself talked about it recently at the Global Soccer Awards. And the players are right - fans also don't need more games. We need fewer games, but with better quality, and we can achieve this exactly partly by reducing the number of games! This is why I always laugh when anyone compares Mbappe or Haaland to Cristiano - yes, they both have been scoring tons of goals from a young age, but this is because they play more games in general nowadays, and also, they only have score and run, but nothing of the younger Cristiano flair, skills, and just pure magic!

[@nicknewman7848]

I watched Ronaldo live many times and I think 2007 was his best combination of dynamics when he was still a winger with striker ahead of him to move defenders. Still young, brave, fast, strong, creative and with freedom and enough experience to understand the game. He would have been 22 or 23 at that time I think. The combination of strength and speed and raw instinct can really only be achieved in players under 25/26 years of age i think.

[@llbuitre]

Baseball, basketball and also football are too relient on data and analytics. They are losing the instinct, the art and the feel for the game part. Although for me, analytics and the human side of the game should be co-requisite. Not over the other.

[@4M4D-54]

The results demonstrate that this systematic approach to playing with a team of athletes is the most effective method. If other teams were to revert to the legacy artistic and spontaneous approach, they would likely fail to achieve consistent success. Unless you possess the exceptional skills of Messi, who can single-handedly dismantle the entire system with his dribbling and passing, this is the most optimal way to become a serial winner.

[@reitudichabe1351]

Wenger also mentioned this. This is why players don’t stand out as much. We don’t see long range goals like we used to. The technical nature is scarce. Players are forced to fit into systems and not the other way around. Too many times I see an exciting player bought by a team and his new team tries to change his style of play which defeats the purpose of why he was bought in the first place. Great insight by Cesc

[@thabanesutu79]

We don’t have players like zidane, Ronaldinho, etc etc. zero ingenuity! Football is so boring now.

[@thomsonsalimon4129]

WORD!!! That's what made most of us mfs love football, from 2019 flair, tricks, fancy passes, Longshots, and showboating in general is DEAD

[@Rivane84]

​@@thomsonsalimon4129it all started way earlier. In mid 00s already because the game was made too soft. Too easy for attacking player while defender were handicaped. Coaches later just realized how to exploit restricted defender by pre organizing all before a match. The coaches realized that just running and passing past helpless defender is way more effective than dribbling. Creativity was needed when the resistance of football was tough. When 1 defender was enough to stop an attacker. Today they defend with the whole team and still conceding many goals because defender r just allow to Block, intercept or kicking the ball away. Tackles r almost non existent anymore. In the 80s and 90s 1 defender could do for what u need 3 today

[@thomsonsalimon4129]

@@Rivane84 ok it might have started around 2000s but it was for sure WAY more entertaining from then to now. I get the feeling managers don't want players to do tricks, just win the game, by simple passes and often tap ins. Ok some shots are good ngl but there's no flair to the build up of most goals thus boring shit

[@Rivane84]

@@thomsonsalimon4129 yeah it was way more joy to watch. Today i just watch Highlights or let it run besides doing something else. Rules and conditions allow that Typen of play sadly. If Fifa put in sliding and tough tackles again, it would be as in early 2000s or 90s. But without defender being allowed to Touch attacker, its gonna be robotic

[@thomsonsalimon4129]

@@Rivane84 Word i do that to, just have the game on while doing other shiet. Wait what is slide tackling not allowed now? Ur kidding right? This can’t be true wtf no offense bro

[@herculests106]

When everybody is technical, the fastest and the strongest have an advantage! When the defense is more organized than in the past, there would be fewer opportunities for one-on-one! When the defenders are faster than before, they will fault you even if you outplay! It's not the technical level that got smaller; the other aspects got higher. The players are not less technical; they perform their technical actions way faster and in more complex situations. People have forgotten relatively fast that 20-25 years ago, we were cheering if a defender was heating the ball hard after a goalkeeper volley to send it back to the opposite side and every defender who was able to make 2 or 3 passes in the back was called a "Beckenbauer".

[@c.v.v]

when a legend speaks, it,s truth.. Fabregas is an arsenal legend

[@billkingston4402]

He is right, never heard of stats growing up, now its just insane

[@mlungisimanzini8143]

They had to be a competition for an eye test, which can be subjective.

[@MrLelepele]

Ronaldinho, R9, Platini and Stoichkov would drive modern managers crazy if they were starting out today .

[@killabuddha88]

It's become this way, not just in football, but anywhere you can make money, the art gets replaced by formulas. Same thing has happened to music, which is why everything sounds the same. Even in schools they stifle creativity for conformity

[@thembisilemandlevu9365]

Accent aside, him and Henry speak the same way

[@thabanesutu79]

Absolute gold dust!

[@Gatsu181182]

Let's hope we will be able to watch great 10s play again

[@djowtsan]

I like this interview, it makes me to rethink about football I guess most teams nowadays prefer ‘system’, even one important player is injured , the system still works. I still want to see more creativity from players though

[@jeremyking5309]

“Pass the ball or you get benched!!” That’s the problem today.

[@KnightsOfTheBase2025]

some great points - this guy has a great future as a coach

[@benedictjajo]

All thanks to Pep. 😂 Dude literally made football in his own image: Robotic and Controlling.

[@Hannover1685]

Except the team he will be remembered most for was nothing of the sort. It embodied exactly what Fabregas is on about now. But here’s the thing, most of them were products of La Masia and so that the ideas Pep had were the same ones the players grew up with and knew intuitively which is why it worked so well. Now when Pep moves away from that setup to other clubs (eg Bayern, City) that’s no longer the case and so yes it becomes more robotic, but that’s not because Pep wants robotic football. It’s because he now has to translate those ideas he has to players who weren’t inculcated in that way of seeing football. That and everyone trying to imitate Pep.

[@george._mav]

It's not peps fault. He was playing his own football and everyone else thought they should copy his principles of play Klopp ruined football more by removing creative players and having 3 defensive midfielders with FBs playing so high and the wingers basically are inverted forward. Not to mention the brutal multitaskig the no.9 has to fulfill At least pep plays haaland to his strengths, a klopp/conte type coach would burn that guy out

[@nobertedeke4715]

New age robots computer world Vs human beings

[@soulsaproductions2024]

Fabregas has succinctly and eloquently explained why I've fallen out of love with the game. Having grown up watching the likes of Maradona, Platini, Zidane, R9, Ronaldinho and others, none of today's star players come remotely close.

[@tiwaboonchu742]

Totally agree, I watch football on TV and almost fall as sleep every time. Many footballers play like robot and as if they has lost their truly instincts. It's getting bored.😪

[@NaticzkaKaminskaHenryDolphin]

And this is why there won't be anyone like Cristiano ever again! For his entire career, he was a magic skillful entertainer, and he was extremely efficient at the same time! Plus, he has a larger-than-life, colorful personality, unlike the rest of the 99,99% of footballers who are bland and boring! He speaks brutal truths and this is why the media often hate him or twist everything he says, but at least he has his own, unapologetic views, and doesn't stay silent even if it's more fashionable and if it would make people like him more. That's what, in fact, I respect so much in Cristiano - that he doesn't care about being liked! Unlike Messi who is a great player too, but he is boring and all about 'nice humble boy' PR.

[@GrizZLyGuy]

The amount this type of discussion is happening in other media…film, music etc it tells u that this is the direction the worlds going in as a whole….turning ppl into robots

[@gror7849]

I miss the days of "relationism" when players got to know each other, played by instinct with the cherry on the cake being a good coach who besides letting them do their thing also pinpointed where weakness were present in the adversary. Football was art in those days and "youtube tactical influencers" would not have been able to make a living disecting those teams ...cause who can predict instinct?!

[@MementoMori_2070]

Times have changed, and so has football

[@1872959]

Spain winning Euros and their technical player oriented style was the sign that the tides are shifting, along with the difficulties Guardiola is facing.

[@worldnews2660]

No

[@mukimuki123]

This is why there will never be another Messi again. Messi symbolizes the "Freedom" that Fabregas is talking abt.

[@luvslogistics1725]

I miss the Ronaldinho, Okocha, Zidane, Kanu, and players that did the unpredictable, played free, with their soul on fire!

[@divad23]

It’s true that one must “copy” coaches that have been studying the “new” way of training and playing in order to remain competitive; but each league has one coach trying to do something different to counter the robots. When it works, slowly the game will evolve to that different way…and so it evolves.

[@aaronchisholm1267]

Brilliant interview. He confirmed what fans have seen for a number of years, over coached players, prioritising athleticism over football ability which gives predictable results and extremely boring football. Hopefully there is a move away from this trend with lovers of creativity and individualism like Fábregas.

[@dreamingpain]

Football went out the window when Cesc went to Barca and broke our hearts

[@12334ttqtqt]

Great coach in the making

[@derrickwinter9737]

PEP smashed every premier league record going mcfc🩵🤣👍⚽️👑

[@cordypants3639]

Football is more of a business than it is a sport nowadays, therefore we now have upper management trying to micro-manage every detail in order to be as productive as possible. Players aren't encouraged to use flair in order to win.

[@nobertedeke4715]

Very true ....

[@SafirLamkhantar]

Football coaches saw Moneyball in cinema and thought they'd win everything just by imitating Brad Pitt in this movie.

[@sandeepshakya688]

The Guardiola style football has changed the football and damaged the beauty of Football

[@Sedge63]

@@sandeepshakya688 There is so much money at stake with the Guardiola type of football.

[@Shauny121]

Its sad man, I read a book recently on data in football, we have become so reliant on stats and probability that, teams now still to these principles when setting up, where seeing this with arsenal and the set pieces, alongside how they set up and play in a structured way which hinders players, painful to watch these days, oh and then there's VAR

[@totalbodyperformancefitnes4813]

Doesn't take a genius to notice the game is being tainted by the data and technology. Used to be entertaining- like going to watch a Broadway show. Now it's like watching 2 teams too scared to take risks and being content with a stalemate.

[@carltonlambert7608]

Life like A.I. matches with the things inject that you like about football is your only hope and something I can see coming. Googles A.I. blogger software woke me up to what football will be in the future.

[@lucastristan3413]

Thank you guardiola

[@mikeypc3592]

​@@lucastristan3413Don't know why people keep blaming Guardiola for that. He is just one man who can only influence how his own team plays. Nobody else has to follow him and they can play how they want. To blame Guardiola for how football is today is ridiculous.

[@audialiastt2601]

Many players buy who the manager can "trust" to play in a way that represents his orders.

[@drilldrulus1235]

Give the players total freedom within the confine of their position on the pitch or just some simple instructions.

[@reeveswongpiano]

I miss those days where wingers had the balls to take on defenders, beat them and take on another, and another

[@kamomculu7511]

He just GETS IT!!! And this is why Serie A has been and is still the best league in the world; it produces managers that want football to be played they way it SHOULD be played

[@fugaziishime]

Serie A has some of the most brutally rigid tactics. What are you talking about?

[@flrnwrtz]

The hardest league to play is in the premier league but the best league interms of competition, how the game is played is Serie A. I just like watching Serie A more, i think we have 4 different sides winning the last 5 title races. the PL is a harder league because of the lack of flair in the league in general. You are most likely to enjoy watching any other league than PL, plus its harder for attacking players to come and be good because of the way teams play. the same reason the england side has so many great players in the national team but can't win games convincingly.

[@andrescano4065]

WHAT???? serie a is playing footbal like it should be played based on what? Not based on trophies for sure: Last 25 years LALIGA won 24 international trophies (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AND EUROPA LEAGUE), PREMIER LEAGUE won 16 and SERIE A won 5. What are you saying man.

[@miloradmaksimovic321]

Italian football is known for riggid defending, not for art.

[@arnaudk9375]

@@miloradmaksimovic321 you are talking shit. Serie A have the most varieties in all the european championship in terms of football approach.

[@paulricketts10]

The example of what positional play has done to Jack Grealish backs Fabregas' point.

[@arsenal0095]

Very good explanation, but football evolved to what is today for a reason. When you allow a player to have freedom but he doesn't execute his action perfectly, you could put your team under immense pressure from a counter attack.

[@xD_sparkli]

After hearing this I am excited to see that Dele is playing for Fabregas' Como

[@karlos777x]

I agree to some degree, but he is coaching a team that he partially owns...any other professional coach's job, depends on the results he delivers, not only winning but the evolution of the team as a whole...and even if they manage to improve the team's performance, if the players don't want the coach for whatever reason, they could make the club change coach by underperform some games....the players remain with their contracts or leave for a better team and bigger salary...and the coach goes home. Fabregas talks in a romantic way about how the players need freedom, that freedom gives them power, that power feed their ego and that's a big problem....he fails to explain that most players don't care about the club, fans of the club, coaches or anything but themselves and how much more money they can make.

[@garethlloyd4716]

Diving has changed a lot as well the game never flows now the ref blows his whistle every 30 seconds

[@neildean7515]

Its is sad and I agree with him. However, flair and creative players with supreme technical ability will always have freedom, especially if they can create or score goals.. The Messi’s, the Ronsldinho, Zola’s Catalana, zidane, Gasgiogne or Mo Salah of this world are born entertainers. They will always have the freedom because of their Creative Genuis

[@jonm9501]

Brilliant insight. He’s absolutely right. That’s why we have to appreciate the Cole Palmers of this world who dare to be mavericks and take players on etc. it’s too rigid, every game is a boring chess game.

[@garethlloyd4716]

Agree Palmer is like a throwback watching him

[@neildean7515]

It is true, Football is a sport were top Coaches are controlling players to such an extent, that football players are becoming Robotic. Football is also about Physical condition and size, Speed and football IQ. Inteligence and the speed of a players mind, is being used to carry out instructions rather than take risks. Thats why now seem to watch less professional football, but prefer to watch the kids (8-14 years) because its more chaotic and unpredictable.. ultimately more entertaining

[@SuperSunshine321]

I'm probably incorrect, but isn't what Ancelotti is doing in Real Madrid somewhat of a reaction to the highly systematic football of today? Surely, he has a lot tactical input as well (we all remember his legendary AC Milan team that went to two CL Finals), but I feel like he lets players figure out a lot on the pitch on their own. However, in order to do so, you need S-tier superstar level players, which Real Madrid usually has access to since they have the history, name and money to attract those players.

[@ags911]

He’s always let the players express themselves, it requires high IQ players like Kaka, Seedorf, Pirlo, Modric, Kroos etc.

[@Wozniak_15]

So true. Football today is boring. So boring. Plis bring back exciting football.

[@AW-kr9fl]

Cesc is a very intelligent guy

[@ragnarjakobsen7722]

Couldn't agree more!! I've been saying this the last few years.. football is getting boring and going backwards.

[@Diego-y9q]

I’m pretty close to being done with football, once the love of my life. When referees are media celebrities you know you’ve got a major problem.

[@thamsanqagamede528]

maybe the game doesnt need a coach, as kids we freely played the game without them and it was enjoyable, to win we all need to have football brains thats all.

[@rafikz77]

Brazil didn’t win the. 2022 WC but they were the most entertaining team to watch in that tournament

[@denis_the_menace421]

What Fabregas is talking is called "Americanization of European Football".

[@ammarkhalil34v]

Engineering is not Americanization. It's a field of study.

[@denis_the_menace421]

@@ammarkhalil34vLook at US sport, its all about percentages and statistics. Thats reflecting on european football and its all about afficiency which minimalise football magic. Top European clubs are owned by US corporations so they push their ideas to bring football to american market and readjust ours (euro) at the same time. Im waiting a day when we all gonna call it a soccer lol

[@marsalah70]

Calhanogue the turkey guy was only i know a classic 10 that adapting in modern system. He is more on now on DM.

[@patwilliam242]

Spot on!

[@mcoeif]

Football's version of "there's too many 3's in the NBA"

[@dreamingpain]

After the 2002 World Cup, Europe made it know to Brazil and South America that they are moving away from skilled players and are recruiting physical players, Jose and other managers started the trend and Brazil sulk to this because of the money they were making from player sales. It has been over 20 yrs and Brazil can’t compete on the world stage no more

[@senorcornersatx]

Teams over focused on winning. Forgetting that “winning” is the objective of the team…however, the league is the product…and a big part of the product is the art. The unpredictable aspect of the game. The beauty. If all the teams are using the same analytics, the same theory. The same rules. It becomes too predictable. There’s no novelty.

[@dac088]

Totally agree!

[@fishnaldo]

Players are too afraid to try something different because it could have an adverse effect on their stats, whether that is pass completion, shots on target, etc. Long shots are almost gone from the game apart from by a few players who are usually young and have yet to have their creativity killed by stats. Cesc Fabregas was always a joy to watch. When Jack Grealish left Aston Villa for Man City it ruined him as a player. As a Villa fan it makes me very sad to see. There are many more examples of this type of transformation.

[@azlifmohamed8804]

Gardiola is ruining it

[@njongomato]

I always tell people - I watch football with my EYES, not through numbers on a screen.

[@nikkicherry6559]

I no more watching football now.😂

[@MattBax-sy3gk]

I grow up watching scholes bergkamp zidane ballers, its all tactics now

[@fik99football28]

Got a point ☝🏻👌🏼

[@roncatton7101]

Fabregas is spot on! Football is far to robotic now. The game has changed dramatically but not for the best. Freedom of expression for players has almost gone nowadays. Majority of these stats are useless, the most important "stat" is goals being scored. A team can have 90% posession, but it only takes a shot on goal at the other end to beat them!