SM
Newcastle vs. West Ham: 1 day 53 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Cesc Fabregas backs Monaco to challenge Lionel Messi's PSG in Ligue 1

:Headline: Cesc Fabregas backs Monaco to challenge Lionel Messi's PSG in Ligue 1:
Cesc Fabregas' Monaco finished third in Ligue 1 last season, one place behind rivals PSG.
Sports Mole

Cesc Fabregas believes Monaco's enthusiastic and talented young group of players are ready to push Lionel Messi's Paris St Germain all the way in the Ligue 1 title race this season.

The Argentina captain was officially unveiled by PSG on Wednesday at a press conference at the Parc de Princes after he completed a shock move on a free transfer a day earlier.

Messi and Fabregas came through Barcelona's famed La Masia academy before they spent three years as team-mates in the first-team at the Nou Camp, but they will be domestic rivals in France and the Monaco ace warned his good friend picking up more silverware in Paris will not be a formality.

Former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, Euro 2020 winner Gianluigi Donnarumma and ex-Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum have all joined on frees, while right-back Achraf Hakimi moved from Inter Milan.

And while Fabregas admits PSG have created a "super team", he believes that brings its own pressures.

He added: "Certainly when PSG don't win the league everyone sees it as a disaster because they spent a lot of money and everyone takes it as a one-team league but in the last five years they won three because Monaco and Lille have been in the middle and put a break on the winning streak they had.

"It is a competitive league, it is not as easy as people think, it is very aggressive, very fast with strong players who defend well. As a coach I am sure Pochettino prefers to have a fantastic squad with a lot of pressure on himself knowing he needs to win than the other way round.

"They must have pressure when you create a super team like that. It is obvious they want to win the Champions League, they have been following it and trying to catch it for a very long time now.

"It seems like this is the last push, there is nothing better than Leo Messi, no better defender than Ramos, Wijnaldum is one of the best midfielders, Hakimi is one of the best right-backs, it feels like they are doing that little extra and final push to see where it takes them."

Fabregas, who is in the final year of his contract at the Stade Louis II, is the elder statesman of Niko Kovac's Monaco team which contains numerous young players.

“They (PSG) have a fantastic team and it helps, but it doesn't guarantee they win all the titles”
- Monaco midfielder Cesc Fabregas

Several have already pestered the former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder about trying to help them get Messi's number 30 shirt when PSG host their rivals for the first time this season on December 12.

"Obviously it is big news for France, for Ligue 1, I think four days ago no one expected this is happening," Fabregas admitted.

"All the boys are really excited and they have a lot of enthusiasm knowing they will be playing against Lionel Messi. For some of them they are dreaming of it so for them it is a really good thing.

"They don't stop asking questions and sometimes this brings even more motivation and confidence to do well and try to do whatever you can for something special to happen.

"Everyone wants his shirt, they all want me to ask already for the mid-December to keep the shirt for them and I say probably he's only got two so we are 25 and I don't know how I do that.

"But it is nice to see the will to compete and show their talent because this team at Monaco is full of talent. It will be a big test, they know that but when the right time comes to play against the best player in the world, they will show what they can do."

BT Sport is the exclusive home of Ligue 1 football in the UK and Ireland, with around 200 top-flight clashes available to watch this season. For more info, visit btsport.com

body check tags ::

amp_article__458986 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-08-11 15:37:59:
html db last update - 2021-08-11 15:37:59 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Cesc Fabregas

Click here for more stories about Barcelona

Share this article now:
AL
Read Next:
Lionel Messi targeting more Champions League glory after being unveiled by PSG
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Cesc Fabregas Lionel Messi Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Lionel Messi targeting more Champions League glory after being unveiled by PSG
Ruben's Reds denied dream start as Hutchinson-inspired Ipswich secure score draw

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
3Real Madrid1283125111427
4Villarreal137422521425
5Osasuna146441922-322
6GironaGirona146352018221
7Mallorca146351312121
8Athletic Bilbao135531913620
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad135351110118
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

More Estevao wizardry: Chelsea prospect helps send Palmeiras top of Brasileiro

1

ME

Survival boost? Leicester 'join Man United, Arsenal' in race for striker

2

SB

Three is a crowd: Slot joins exclusive Premier League managers' club

3

TI

Salah the saviour: Leggy Liverpool fight back in five-goal Southampton thriller

4

ST

Team News: Who makes Amorim's first Man United XI? Will the Red Devils play 3-4-3?

5

TN

Wolff 'lucky' to get Bottas back at Mercedes

6

W'

Sunday's Premier League predictions including Ipswich Town vs. Man United

7

SP

Will Yamal be available? Predicted Barcelona XI vs. Brest

8

WY

Postecoglou 'pushing' for Tottenham 'to beat Man United' to England man

9

P'

Preview: Sporting Lisbon vs. Arsenal - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PS


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .