Cesc Fabregas: England nothing without Jack Wilshere

Posted Monday, November 14, 2011 by The Sun

Cesc Fabregas: England nothing without Jack Wilshere
PASS MASTER ... Jack Wilshere

CESC FABREGAS slammed Fabio Capello's negative tactics at Wembley and said: England are nothing without Jack Wilshere.

The Spain star was unimpressed with the Three Lions as they held out for a 1-0 win over his world and European champs in Saturday's sellout friendly.

He believes his 19-year-old former Arsenal team-mate Wilshere — sidelined with an ankle injury — was sorely missed by Capello's men.

Fabregas, making his first return to London since quitting the Gunners for Barcelona in the summer, said: "England are a very solid team and if they have Jack back it will make a massive difference to them.

"He is the one with the talent to make things happen and on Saturday we didn't see that really."

Spain dominated possession and had 21 efforts on goal overall, compared to England's three.

But the Three Lions got the one that mattered as Frank Lampard nodded in a close-range winner in the 49th minute.

Capello's men then had to survive a Spanish onslaught.

Fabregas, 24, said: "We saw two very different styles of teams. One defensive and one trying to play football and trying to score goals.

"In the end the one trying to score goals didn't and the one not trying did. So it was a very weird game. Normally, England don't play like that when Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshere are available.

"But unfortunately they were without a few players and maybe it was an obligation to play like that.

"We are getting used to this kind of game but that's not an excuse.

"We knew the only way they could score was from a set-piece and we conceded a bad free-kick and they scored.

"You cannot say it doesn't matter. Spain are the world and European champions and we always want to win, but we definitely prefer to lose today than in an important game.

"We lost friendly games to Argentina, Portugal and Italy after we won the World Cup.

"It's not that the players feel under pressure, but always when we play important games we win at the moment and that makes us feel positive and strong."

While Scott Parker took the sponsors' Man of the Match bubbly, midfielder Fabregas was at a loss to pick his best home player.

The former Arsenal skipper said: "It's difficult to say who played well for England because they were defending basically the whole game.

"We lost friendly games to Argentina, Portugal and Italy after we won the World Cup.

"It's not that the players feel under pressure, but always when we play important games we win at the moment and that makes us feel positive and strong."

While Scott Parker took the sponsors' Man of the Match bubbly, midfielder Fabregas was at a loss to pick his best home player.

The former Arsenal skipper said: "It's difficult to say who played well for England because they were defending basically the whole game.

"Parker has always been the same for me, a player who runs a lot, very good discipline.

"Even with the ball he was quite good when he was involved in play.

"But they had 10 men behind the ball and that makes it much easier for everyone because you are more solid and compact. We will see more when they play offensive football."

Real Madrid's former Liverpool midfield man Xabi Alonso said: "We should have expected this kind of performance from England.

"We had control, most of the possession, but it was difficult to create chances because they defended so deep and were lucky enough to score from a set-piece.

"We weren't surprised by how England played. Most of the teams we play sit deep against us. We saw that in the World Cup. We know if we score first, most of the job is done. We didn't score first here.

"People respect us because they know our qualities so it's no surprise they try to defend deep.

"I wouldn't be surprised if England played the same way against us if we meet them at the Euros."

This was Spain's fourth friendly defeat since being crowned world champions 16 months ago.

Manchester City star David Silva said: "It was very difficult. They were sat back, all of the team, defending with their lives and the only way they could score was with a rebound. We had chances but we couldn't quite get it over the line.

"To be honest we were surprised at quite how defensive England were, but we have to accept that playing that way enabled them to beat us.

"We are quite calm about losing. We did everything we could and it was not to be, but at least this was only a friendly and what happened did not happen in a competitive game."