Euro 2023: Fabregas comments on Southgate's decision to bench key England player

Former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas expressed his disapproval of England manager Gareth Southgate’s choice to keep Cole Palmer on the bench during the Three Lions’ 1-0 victory over Serbia in their Euro 2024 opener on Sunday.

Fabregas questioned Southgate’s tactics, especially his preference for defense after Jude Bellingham’s early 13th-minute goal. During a post-match analysis show, Fabregas shared his thoughts on Palmer’s lack of playtime.

He stated (via chelsea.news), “If you send the message by putting in a defensive midfielder or an extra defender to protect the lead, as a player, you feel it. Mentally, you start retreating more. However, if you introduce an offensive player like [Cole] Palmer to control the ball in the final third, I believe the players feel much more comfortable.”