Sports
Fàbregas Targets Europa League Minutes, Trophy
As Maurizio Sarri learns to effectively and usefully rotate his squad and deal with the hectic schedule that’s the norm at Chelsea — trying to strike that ever-elusive correct balance between winning, fitness, and happiness — one player who is eager to get more minutes and impress the manager is midfielder Cesc Fàbregas.
He was one of several players given a chance to impress last Wednesday in the League Cup third round match against Liverpool at Anfield, and like most on that day, he did just that in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory.
“It was a statement from all of us to the manager. We are showing him that he can count on all of us. It was my first start of the season and a real test at Anfield as half of the team hadn’t played much. I hadn’t nor Emerson, Gary [Cahill], [Victor] Moses, [Willy] Caballero and Andreas Christensen. It was a big challenge because we didn’t have any rhythm. We have only been playing together in training.”
Fàbregas had been slowed by a knee injury as well that he picked up towards the end of preseason, but now he obviously wants more minutes and more chances.
Fortunately for him, he should be getting regular opportunities to spell Jorginho and any other midfielder in Sarri’s 4-3-3 as Chelsea continue to deal with the standard twice-weekly match schedule. Not counting international weeks, Chelsea have a match every 3-4 days from now until well into the winter and the new year.
Everyone will need to be ready and up to the task.
“Up till last week, it has been difficult because the club has not been playing a lot — we were playing once a week so it’s easy for the manager to pick the same team, especially when it is doing well. But now we are in the Europa League, the EFL Cup and the League so there are a lot of games coming up and we will need everyone to be ready.”
And while the Europa League is not the competition we dream of, it’s got a fantastic potential reward (Champions League qualification), so we might as well try to win it. Not to mention, silverware is silverware, and is often the main motivator for players.
“I wish [playing in the Europa League] never had to happen. I always said I never wanted to play in the tournament in a way because that would mean I was in the Champions League. But listen, you always have a first time for everything. Now that we are here, I hope that we can win it.”
Ipswich boss Gary O’Neil made a double raid on his former club Strasbourg to sign Julio Enciso and Abdoul Ouattara on Monday.
Enciso is back at Ipswich in a deal worth a reported £25 million ($33 million) after spending six months on loan from Brighton in 2025 in a spell that ended in the Tractor Boys’ relegation from the Premier League.
The Paraguay winger, who played for his country at the recent World Cup, joined Strasbourg in September 2025, impressing O’Neil enough to earn a five-year contract after the manager’s move to Ipswich in the close-season.
“I really enjoyed my time on loan at the club and I was so happy to see them win promotion back to the Premier League last season,” Enciso said.
“I worked with the manager in France last season and the chance to play for him again at a great club like Ipswich is one I’m very excited for.”
Ipswich won promotion to the Premier League in May under the management of Kieran McKenna, who quit at the end of last season.
Ahead of Ipswich’s Premier League opener at home to Sunderland on Saturday, Ivorian forward Ouattara was also reunited with O’Neil at Portman Road.
Ouattara, 20, signed a contract lasting until 2031 to complete his £17 million move to England.
“Abdoul is a talented young player who can play in different positions, so is a very good addition to our squad,” O’Neil said.
“We enjoyed working with him in France last season and are delighted to have the opportunity to do so again at Ipswich.”
Manchester United have reiterated their stance that club captain Bruno Fernandes is not for sale this summer.
Fernandes was vital in United’s charge to UEFA Champions League qualification at the back end of last season as he broke the EPL record for assists with 21 goals laid on.
The 31-year-old has been consistently linked with a move away from Old Trafford, with the Saudi Pro League regularly tipped for a fresh offer, after he turned them down last summer.
His current contract expires in June 2027, with the club holding an option to extend by another 12 months, which is currently being negotiated to activate.
His £57M release clause will remain in place, but as per BBC Sport, Michael Carrick will demand the club keep his Portuguese maestro in place.
Turkish giants Galatasaray, plus Italian duo Juventus and AC Milan, have been linked with offers of around £50M – but United are unmoved – ahead of their Premier League season opener at Hull City on August 22nd.
Barcelona have reached a deal with Manchester City to sign Spanish World Cup winner Rodri, a source from the Catalan club said on Sunday.
The 30-year-old midfielder will move for a fee of around €75 million ($87 million), according to reports.
“In the coming days there will be a statement and (the transfer) will become official,” said the Barcelona source.
Rodri had been linked with Real Madrid after Spain won the World Cup in July, but Barcelona pushed to sign the former Atletico Madrid star, who has played a key part in Manchester City’s success since he joined in 2019.
The midfielder, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2024, has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons but shone as Spain won their second World Cup.
Barca’s Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong is set to miss several months through injury, encouraging the club to move for Rodri.
The Spain captain was a vital figure for Pep Guardiola at City, leading them to the 2023 Champions League and four Premier League titles among 12 major trophies.
The Spanish champions had two bids rejected for Rodri but eventually reached a deal with City on Sunday, with the midfielder following Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Jesse Bisiwu to Camp Nou this summer.
Rodri, Spain’s captain, was a vital figure for Pep Guardiola at City, leading them to the 2023 Champions League and four Premier League titles among 12 major trophies.
Barca are also expected to complete a deal to sign Joao Cancelo in the coming days after they loaned him last season from Al Hilal.
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