Former Chelsea Midfielder, Cesc Fabregas has voiced his disapproval of England manager Gareth Southgate’s decision to keep Cole Palmer on the bench during the Three Lions’ 1-0 victory over Serbia in their Euro 2024 opener on Sunday.
The Spaniard questioned Southgate’s tactics, particularly his inclination to prioritize defence after Jude Bellingham’s early 13th-minute goal.
During a post-match analysis show, Fabregas did not hold back his opinion on Palmer’s lack of playtime.
He said (via chelsea.news), “If you send the message in putting in a defensive midfielder or an extra defender to cover the result, you will as a player feel it.
“Mentally you start going back, dropping more. But instead if you put an offensive player, [Cole] Palmer, let’s say, up the pitch and controlling the ball in the final third, I think the players get so much more comfortable.”
Euro 2023: Fabregas criticizes Southgate for benching England star
