AS Monaco midfielder Cesc Fabregas says Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar Jr. is one of the few players in world football who can afford not to defend - even if the Brazilian does!
Fabregas and Neymar have overlapped for three seasons in Ligue 1 Uber Eats, following the former's arrival at Monaco from Chelsea in January 2019, and although the Spaniard scored the winner when the sides last met in November, he feels the game could have gone either way once his Brazilian friend was introduced for the final 30 minutes.
'Neymar defends!'
Neymar's special," he told L'Equipe. "Wherever he plays, he'll always make a difference. You can give a little more freedom to players like this. But to others, no. Messi, Cristiano, Neymar, but Neymar defends, eh!"
Watch: Fabregas scored the winner when Monaco beat PSG 3-2 in November
"Football is in the head: intelligence, thinking, knowing how to pass at the right time. You can be quick but stand out for the wrong reasons. But you can be physically slower like Wissam Ben Yedder but be very smart, save time."
Indeed, Ben Yedder has pulled up to nine goals for the campaign following his brace in Monaco's 3-2 win at Montpellier Hérault SC last Friday, and Fabregas is impressed with the way the side are playing under new coach Niko Kovac.
Kovac influence
"The arrival of Paul Mitchell as sports director and also Niko Kovac, a very experienced coach who was a former player… it makes the club more structured. When it's more solid the players feel it, we just have to think about playing well
"When I get up in the morning, I know that I'll train with a lot of young players who have a huge desire. They ask questions of you; they have a lot of talent. As long as I have this same desire, I'll carry on."