Gary Lineker Meets Cesc Fabregas MOTD: The Premier League Show

The King's Road in Chelsea -

for so long now synonymous

with the capital's fashionable

and famous.

But on Sunday afternoon this stylish

corner of west London will be given

over to some of the leading icons

of the football world,

as the home side take

on Manchester United in the latest

instalment of one of the Premier

League's great rivalries.

It's there for the shot. Across

Terry and scores.

Hasselbaink. Oh, yes. Scholes. Its

had to be. This is Zola. Scores.

Giggs. Superb play by Manchester

United. Van Persie. Conte.

Conte.

Hello, and welcome to The Premier

League Show from Chelsea.

Joining me today, two dedicated

followers of fashion in the form

of Jermaine Jenas and comedian Elis

James.

Clothe as important as ever to the

modern footballer.

Of course, we are

on the King's Road. Is

Suited and

booted. Not so much for comedians.

This is new.

Is that the best you

can say.

I can't compete with

Germain, he is very handsome.

You

both look very fashionable. Here is

what we will try on for size today.

Gary Lineker meets Cesc Fabregas for

a wide-ranging chat on his coaches

and country. Shane Duffy on adapting

to the Premier League with Brighton

and we will discuss the key talking

points from a busy seven days. Last

Saturday marked the an versery of

Cesc Fabregass seen your debut and

the beginning of ta glittering Kara

Mbodj rear that seen him Garner

trophies so plenty to discuss when

he sat down with Gary Lineker.

How are you. Nice to see you.

I brought you something.

You have

kind.

I don't know if you have it.

I

have a Barca shirt but not a Messi

one. It is signed.

You are a big fan

of him. Do you like it?

That's

great.

No problem.

This is Fabregas. Cultured play from

the 18-year-old.

Brilliant Fabregas.

Fabregas. .

You went to Barcelona,

the famous breeding ground for

footballer, what it is about that

place and why does it produce so

many world class players?

I think it

is easy to say, I mean, all the

coaches, they are top, all the

coaches are dedicated, 100% to

football. I don't think they have

any other job, the way the first

team play, you play, so, you already

are growing up, for me, the big

advantage you have an identity as a

footballer, you sign for Barcelona,

you know you have certain qualities,

that the club wants, from you.

It

has been a hell of a decision to

move from there, at 16 years old to

come to foreign country, big town

like London.

Yes, it was. I just

turned 16, and you see Arsene

Wenger, there waiting for you,

cutting his holiday to see you. For

me it was a bit like, what have I

done? They made an offer for me,

Arsene Wenger was clear, he wanted

me to train with the first team

since day one, and I am not going to

lie, it was tough, but, fantastic

opportunity, I mean at Barcelona it

was so difficult and you had the

like of Iniesta who didn't reach the

first team, he was seen at the next

big thing. I had to make the

decision I did it, it happened and

here I am today.

Fabregas.

You have

worked with some of the great

managers. Let us start with Arsene

Wenger, what were his great

strengths?

For the young player, I

think he is the best manager anyone

can work with.

Why?

He has

attribute, it is near him possible

to have, which is patience. But he

just has patience to see, this guy,

see something in him, I am going to

go for it. You play but bad game,

you play two bad games but he still

trusts you, until he gives ewe

chance, the right chance to show and

to prove yourself, and the other

thing is the freedom he gives you to

play football.

And Fabregas, he has made it four.

Arsenal's youngest ever player and

goal scorer.

I know what he did to

me is not really normal, because of

the, of the age I had especially,

because I was 16, and to give me

that, that freedom after all the

time he made me captain at 21.

A

brilliant goal, scored by their

captain Cesc Fabregas.

That

responsibility on the pitch at such

a young age, for me it is like a

second dad. I always said that.

Eventually you returned to Barcelona

of course and Guardiola, was he

hugely influential in that decision?

Yes, it wasn't easy, because I had a

big responsibility at Arsenal. The

club gave me basically everything,

and, you feel sometimes, you can let

them down a little bit because they

trusted me so much, but I stayed

there eight year, I gave everything

that I had for the club, and I hoped

maybe I wasn't happy with.

Such as?

Different thing, different things

that maybe I shouldn't talk about,

that Arsene Wenger knows them all

because I explain him all my reason,

but I felt it was the time to change

and, and to have a new motivation.

Guardiola, is he on a different

level?

Yes, he is a fantastic coach,

no-one can deny that, everywhere he

has been, he has been able to, to

make that impact about what he

wants.

You played under great coach,

there is Wenger, Guardiola, there is

Mourinho, Conte, the real contrast

in style, and personalities, who do

you think improved you the most?

That is is a tough question. I can

only say that the one thing I am

rally proud of is all the managers

that you mentioned, that I have been

able to adapt myself, my football to

each one of them. Every one knows

that I loved to have the ball at my

feet. I would always prefer a team

that has 70% possession like Arsenal

and Barcelona. Now we don't have as

much possession but I have to do

other things that the manager

demands, and I adapted very well in

the last two years, with Mourinho I

had an incredible season, that was

one of the best of my career, the

Premier League, the first time I won

it, I remember going on my knees,

with such a relief they, holding my

hands up like, saying than you, it

was a competition, I played it so

many years and some of them I was

close, to be able to win it with a

fantastic team under Jose was

fantastic experience.

It was

strange, I said that extraordinarily

good season under Jose and it fell

apart. Why do you think that was?

I

still wonder myself, some time,

because it was such a shame, and,

and you go to bed some time, and you

think about many thing, sometimes

you cannot sleep and sometimes it

bothers me, because I could see it

from the outside as a fan, I could

think myself, like these guys aren't

even trying, they forgot to play

football. You felt that the six

months, we were not close to what we

really were, just a year or less

before it happened and we felt bad

for it.

How is your relationship

with Jose?

Good. We still talk

today. He is probably the manager I

have had the best feel, the best

connection, apart from Arsene

Wenger, but the one I kept most

contact with was Jose.

Then Conte

comes in and you runway with the

league.

Yes. It took time as well,

because I remember at the beginning,

it took a while to get on with it,

to start well.

It's three.

How did

he turn it round?

The loss at

Arsenal.

Arsenal outstanding.

Chelsea have real, real problems.

Straightaway, after we won 2-0 at

Hull, the team plays well, we were

at the high level and I think

straightaway, the mentality of the

players were like, hold on, this

system works well, it fits every

player, everyone felt really

comfortable in that system and from

there, we just took off and nothing

would stop it.

Kind of brings me

round to this season. There are a

lot of mutters that the players are

not happy because they have to train

too hard, is there new truth to

this?

No, no. Not at all. The only

thing that we can say is that last

year there was no Champions League,

and it is a real truth, and we know,

you know, I know that it's, it is

tough when wow are involved in the

Champions League, you know, when you

have the whole week to train, hiss

methods and the fitness coach, you

know, his mentality is very Italian

mentality, we have to run and be

fit, and recover well, but this

year, because of the Champions

League, we are not having that much

time, because every three came --

days you cannot play on the

Wednesday, play Saturday and

Thursday, what you are going to run?

It is impossible, you need to

recover, you need to be well back

for the weekend, so that is not

true.

There have been times when you

have not been first choice, how

frustrating is that for someone that

lives to play so much?

Well, to be

honest, last year was the first time

really, that I, I wasn't first

choice, and it was tough. It was

tough. I will not deny that, because

when you play 13 year, you know, at

the top and you've always been very

important do your coaches and to the

team and all of a sudden you feel

like, well, you are not even nearly

part of the team, because for a few

games I wasn't even involved, and

then, I said listen, I complain and

I moan and I cry, or, I show this

manager that I am the best here and

that I can play, maybe it is true

his style when it first came it is

not the most suitable to me, maybe,

but I will adapt and work hard to

make him see I am very important for

this team and that is what happened

and the second part of the season,

when I had my chance I took it, and

since then, until today I played

every single game.

Iniesta, this is it. That is goal.

Spain have surely won the World Cup.

You have won the World Cup, European

Championship, league, cups

everywhere, what was the greatest,

must be the World Cup, I suppose,

coming, creating the goal as well.

Well.

Well done Fabregas.

That must

be some feeling.

That is the best I

have ever had. Being involved in

that final, and changing the game,

how I helped it to happen, and be

involved in that goal, and when the

referee whistles the end of the

game.

Try and describe that.

I

can't. I swear I can't. It is just,

it was such a relief, it was such a,

a proud moment, how lucky I am. I

cannot believe it I am here. We are

all crying like baby, the first

person I see is Xavi. He had won

everything. He was crying, hugging.

It was a really special moment. I

don't think anything can come close

to this.

It's Spain. European champions.

World Champions.

You are in your 30s now.

Yes.

How

would you like to end your career,

here or...?

I don't know and I don't

want to think about it because every

time I make plans, they never go the

way I want. So I just get op with

it, whatever comes comes,

I must say

if they are not going the way you

want they have had an extraordinary

career, I don't know what you want.

You have won everything, there is

one major competition you haven't

won, the Champions League.

Correct.

Is that the one you need to tick

off?

I would love to, I am, it is

not an obsession s obviously, I've

won things that I could never

imagined, but it is a thing that

it's, it is here, you know, I keep

it, and I would love to win it in

one year, so hopefully with Chelsea.

Don't play well, and it has been

really interesting talking to you.

Thank you.

Really interesting to hear from Cesc

Fabregas at this stage of his

career, been through so many great

club, won so much and still,

agonising over things that go wrong,

want to adapt his game and reach the

highest heights

The fact he wants to

adapt his game or has to, a new Mag

has come any thought that was

fascinating. I felt that right at

the top of the game, the players

like Cesc Fabregas have a mentality

of I am fan fab I have won World

Cups if you are coming to manager me

we will do it my way. For him to

understand Antonio Conte came in, he

was sat on the bench. It wasn't I am

going to spit my dummy out, it was

what can I do to get back in the

side. He probably worked harder and

went on to lift the trophy again,

and, that, that was fascinating to

me, I have to say.

And I hope in a way it's kind of how

you would expect top sports people

to be. He went always find everyone

wants to do everything around you

but his relationship with his

managing -- his managers is

interesting, isn't it?

He has won

two European Championships and a

World Cup, countless titles and he

has sleepless nights because the

dodgy six months with Jose Mourinho.

Have a sleeping pill, get over it!

Maybe that is why I am not a

footballer. I'm so impressed by that

drive, to have that. I was amazed he

is only 30, he clearly still has

back inside him.

He didn't have a

great week in Europe and neither did

Chelsea. Not a particularly

straightforward season for them so

far. What is the crux of what has

not gone right for them so far?

It's

quite simple, I think, when you look

at Leicester when they won the

league, they didn't have any

European football. They fell into a

rhythm of training, play at the

weekend, and Chelsea did exactly the

same thing last year, no European

football to worry about, found their

rhythm and went on to win the league

fairly comfortably. This year, all

of those issues are out there in

terms of training schedules, players

getting more injuries, has Antonio

Conte not really found the balance

between pushing the players and

resting them?

Can take and Havard

haven't been the players they were

last year either?

True, Hazard

didn't have a great pre-season. That

is needed when you are getting into

the rhythm of things. I just don't

like to hear these kind of leaks

that are coming out of the club.

When I hear things like players

aren't happy with the training

schedules and Antonio Conte is

having to defend it, I didn't hear

any of that when they won the

league, so it worries me to hear it

now.

Does it mean you don't have the

right players?

It shows how

imperative -- how competitive the

Premier league is now that they are

the champions and yet man city are

incredible, Manchester United have

becoming credible under Jose

Mourinho and if you stay still, you

will end up faith, which shows just

how good the Premier league is.

I

wonder which Chelsea we will see at

the weekend against Manchester

United. Jose Mourinho does not care

if he has a dull victory, if he has

more points at the end of the

season, he doesn't care what the

swashbuckling side across the city

are doing.

He had his way of

managing and his style which is that

he will look at the fixture list,

his games away from home, as he did

when he went to Anfield and thought,

I need to get a result here. We

don't have to play the game to win

well, as he did against Spurs. That

was a must win game. I think this is

nightmare game for Antonio Conte. I

can see them making it very

frustrating for them, possibly

nicking a win because Chelsea aren't

in great form.

He is such a

pragmatist. And that shushing thing.

He is a character. I don't even know

who the real Jose Mourinho is. He

seems to be playing a role.

I

personally love it. It's a very

liberal way of putting a coat of

armour on, isn't it?

It was 1-1 wins

for Manchester United and Chelsea

last week but here is what health

has been going on in the last seven

days.

Silber has Walker wide. Walker, a

tap in for Raheem Sterling. Another

wonderfully well worked goal. 28

points from a possible 30. What an

opening this has been for Pep

Guardiola's side.

Oh, it soon. Aaron

Ramsey. Three points for the gunners

on the 800th match of Arsene

Wenger's Premier league career.

There is more to come from us and

this is what we want.

What a finish.

A big embrace for his friend.

Liverpool back to winning ways.

Antonio, a poor delivery.

Easily

back to Speroni. Saha can't find a

way in. Can he? Oh my word, he does.

2-0 down at the break, Crystal

Palace bring it back to 2-2.

We are

gutted. We can't concede a goal like

this.

There is great, was being

impeded by Davis but still got free.

And away from Rooney. And he picks

out Mahrez. What a goal that is!

Finished by Jamie Vardy. Claude Puel

must be thinking he has inherited

one heck of a side if they can do

that.

I think, I don't know, never

perfect but it was interesting to

see that.

Here is good Manson, he

shoots, save, I really good save.

Into the mix once again. Crosby! He

scores. Burnley break the deadlock.

Three points that move them up to

within three of the top six.

It's a

nice looking October. Like I say,

it's not a sprint, it's a marathon.

Sean Dyche marking his five-year

anniversary at Burnley with that win

over their opponents. Surely five

years gets you a statue with the way

things are in the Premier league?

It

has been remarkable what he had done

in the five years, that is what is

special. The fact he took them up

and when they came down for a year,

the owners stayed with him and I

think that was special. That has

enabled him to have the stature he

has now. If he does go, it will hurt

them but he will for ever be thought

of in a good light.

He is being

linked with every job going at the

moment. The one that seems to be

sticking at the moment is evident.

It won't be a huge surprise to

Everton fans because he has been so

coveted but it would almost put him

be a risky move to leave the club

where he is so segmented and

settled?

Maybe he is too

comfortable, maybe at ever ten the

club will tell him to clear his

throat. Maybe that is the movie

needs. Needs Bill Kenwright to say,

Abbas Tapsell, maybe gargle. He has

been so good at Burnley but in the

current climate you only get ten or

12 games, so it must be a very

appealing move to such a big club,

but a risk.

And Manchester City, can

we get a word on them? The talk now

is can they go a season unbeaten and

Kevin De Bruyne has told us it's

much harder than when Arsenal did

it. Don't expect that.

Should that

be a name for them? I don't think it

will be an aim for them at the

moment. Not at this stage of the

season. I think he right as well, I

don't think they can go a whole

season unbeaten. They are playing

some of the best football we have

ever seen in the Premier league.

Arsenal did it, Manchester United

managed it and this Manchester City

side show out just as much.

They are

such an exciting team to watch, I

love them.

I loved hearing Pep

Guardiola saying that he realised he

had to score at least three before

he can take his foot of the gas.

He

needs to start shushing people.

And

a quick word, Jermaine, I know it

wasn't Premier League, but that

victory over row Madrid for

Tottenham? It was absolutely

remarkable. They went to Dortmund a

couple of years ago and kind of

failed that test. Last year in the

Champions League, it didn't go well

either. This was a chance for Moritz

Pochettino to look at his squad and

say this is what I've built, this is

what I am proud of, and they could

go on from here. It could be the

clicking point were Dele Alli as

well?

I think we are being a bit

harsh on him.

Not harsh, I am just

suggesting we could bring him back

to the standards of last year.

Yes,

this will only do good for his

confidence so I would expect more

going forward.

Following a 34 year exile

from the top flight,

Brighton & Hove Albion

are experiencing their first ever

Premier League campaign.

After a slow start,

the Seagulls have taken flight,

and one man central to that is Irish

defender Shane Duffy.

We've surprised a few teams already

so far and a lot of pundits out

there felt they didn't

so far and a lot of pundits out

there felt they didn't expect us to

do so well so far and we are just

taking it game by game and not

getting ahead of ourselves.

Brighton

are going to win away in the Premier

league for the time.

To be where you

are in the table after ten games,

that goes to show how could you

actually are.

It's just a belief in

the squad, I think. From the

manager, we believe as well we have

got a good squad. The last couple of

years where everyone knows each

other and he has brought in a couple

of good signings that has helped us

this season. It's a tough league and

as easy in the points, it's not a

massive difference between the

bottom three and where we are, so

we've got to keep ahead of ourselves

and with Swansea, who's next, or

even if it's Manchester United or

Manchester City, we have got to take

them as seriously as if it's Swansea

and that's what we're doing. It's a

game we think we can win and we've

got to go their positive and try to

get three points.

To be playing back

in the Premier league. Did you think

he would be playing at this level

again?

You always have doubts

because it's so difficult to get

back in the league, you think, can I

get back? But I was believed in my

head that I could, given the

opportunity, and I'm back where I

was before I was 18 and it's been a

great start to the season. There's a

long way to go now.

They'll be more of that interview

with Shane Duffie with Juliette

Ferrington asking the questions on

Saturday. He has been important to

them this season. What have you may

generally of Brighton's Premier

league live so far?

I think that

Chris Hughton has settled them in

very well indeed. He gives them that

ability to kind of see what is

happening and decide whether they

want to attack and open up or

whether they want to stay and defend

and try to make points. Sometimes he

gets criticised for it but it is

working for them.

Of course, they

are up against your team this

weekend.

Swansea, I should say, in

case you didn't know. It's a big

month because we are playing

Brighton, Burnley and Bournemouth.

We need to start picking some points

up because I think we are

realistically one of those seven or

eight clubs that are in the

relegation battle.

With the likes of

Brighton.

Yes, so I am absolutely

gutted that they are doing all right

and I am also so gutted about losing

to Ireland. I couldn't watch that

interview, I am sorry.

So it's Brighton for

Swansea this Saturday...

But the Premier League weekend kicks

off in the Potteries

as Claude Puel seeks

to extend his perfect

start with Leicester.

start with Leicester.

At 3 o'clock, West Brom will seek

a first win in nine matches

when they travel to Huddersfield,

while Burnley visit Southampton

aiming to move into the top six

ahead of Liverpool's tea time trip

Plenty of fireworks

in store on a bumper

Sunday that features four

games, including those heavyweight

clashes at the Etihad

and Stamford Bridge.

A big day too for Everton

as they look to move themselves

out of the bottom three.

And it's also a busy

weekend of FA Cup action -

our first round coverage kicks off

on BBC 2 tomorrow night

as non-league Hyde United seek

to upset the MK Dons.

That's all for this week.

Don't forget, if you missed

anything then you can find

the show on the iPlayer.

Thanks to Jermaine and Elis.

Who appeared to get on well.

I

thought so. High hopes for him. I

think he's got a lot going for him.

High praise indeed.

We'll be on Tyneside next Thursday,

and Newcastle captains past

and present will meet

when Alan Shearer interviews

Jamaal Lascelles.

Until then, enjoy an exciting

Premier League weekend on the BBC.

Goodbye.