Euro 2023: Fabregas criticizes Southgate for benching England star

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.”