Cesc Fabregas Recalls the One Match He Was Told Not to Celebrate
Cesc Fabregas, 37, who enjoyed a stellar career with Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, and Monaco, revealed a unique incident from his playing days. Known as one of the best midfielders of his generation, Fabregas scored over 125 career goals. Now serving as the assistant manager for Italian side Como, Fabregas shared a story about a match where he was explicitly told not to celebrate – but did so anyway.
The West London Derby Revelation
During an appearance on the Planet Premier League podcast with former QPR defender Nedum Onuoha, Fabregas reminisced about their clash in the west London derby vs QPR, Reflecting on the 2015 match, Fabregas recounted: “Yeah, I scored the winner! Nedum, you played that game?” Onuoha humorously replied, “I don’t remember Cesc! I’ve got a really bad memory.” Fabregas quickly added, “You were the one that I nutmegged when I shot! They told me, if you score don’t celebrate. But it was such a big goal that I couldn’t hold it.”
@bbcsport When Cesc Fabregas megged Nedum Onuoha and scored the winner 💀 #PlanetPremierLeague #CescFabregas #Fabregas #NedumOnuoha #Chelsea #QPR ♬ original sound – BBC Sport
Celebrating Against Instructions
Cesc Fabregas couldn’t resist the urge to celebrate his crucial 88th-minute strike at Loftus Road, which secured a 1-0 victory for Chelsea. “I just had to go in the corner and celebrate in front of the fans!” he said. This goal was pivotal for Chelsea, contributing to their march towards the 2014-15 Premier League title. However, the celebration led to an unfortunate incident, as Fabregas’ teammate Branislav Ivanovic was hit on the head by a lighter thrown by a QPR fan.
Reactions to the Incident
‘
QPR’s then-manager Chris Ramsey condemned the fan’s behavior, stating, “We don’t want any objects thrown on the pitch. Hostilities between fans can go too far. If that’s the case, we’ll encourage them not to come back.” Meanwhile, Chelsea’s manager at the time, Jose Mourinho, downplayed the controversy, saying, “The game was correct. Correct on the pitch, correct in the stands. Hopefully correct outside. If somebody throws a pound, put the pound in your pocket and go. If it’s a chocolate, eat it. No problem.”
Cesc Fabregas’ goal not only highlighted his knack for crucial moments but also underscored the intense emotions and sometimes unpredictable reactions in high-stakes matches. Despite the warning not to celebrate, Fabregas’ instinctive joy took over, leaving a memorable mark on the derby and Chelsea’s successful title campaign.
