Cesc Fabregas faced Steven Gerrard during his time at Arsenal and Chelsea (Picture: Getty)
Former Arsenal and Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas has picked out Steven Gerrard as his toughest ever opponent in the Premier League and says he ‘learned a lot’ from his battles with the legendary ex-Liverpool skipper.
Fabregas is remembered as one of the finest midfielders of his generation after representing some of the biggest clubs in European football across an illustrious playing career, while winning La Liga titles, Premier Leagues, World Cups, European Championships and much more.
After rising through Barcelona’s fabled La Masia academy, the Spaniard completed a move to Arsenal aged just 16 and went on to captain the club before heading back to the Camp Nou to work under Pep Guardiola in 2011.
A controversial return to England to join Chelsea made Fabregas public enemy number one in north London, but the midfielder was able to achieve something he never managed as an Arsenal player when he won the Premier League in 2014/15 – before getting his hands on the trophy again two years later.
Across his two spells in English football, Fabregas went toe to toe with countless high-class players who have since gone down as legends, but the 2010 World Cup winner believes Gerrard shone above the rest.
‘I always felt he had everything in his locker,’ Fabregas told SPORTbible when asked to name the toughest player he faced in the Premier League.
‘He could dictate play, he could score goals, do assists, make runs in behind. Offensively he was very strong.
The Spanish legend believes Gerrard had ‘everything in his locker’ (Picture: Getty)
‘You always felt that when you were coming up against him you had to be at the top of your game otherwise you would be in trouble, because he was very consistent.
‘He was always an eight, seven, eight, seven [out of 10]. For me he was a role model and someone, looking back, I really appreciate playing against.
‘I learned a lot from him.’
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Fabregas is one of only 13 players to win the European Championships on two occasions after triumphing in 2008 and 2012, when Spain enjoyed a sustained period of dominance in international football.
However, the Spanish national team are deemed as outsiders for this summer’s tournament in Germany and Fabregas feels Luis de la Fuente is lacking a ‘Phil Foden type of player’ in his side.
Asked which England player he would steal for Spain, Fabregas replied: ‘I would go for more of an offensive players, more of a number 10. I think I would go for Foden.
‘A Phil Foden type of player, I think we need it in Spain.’
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