Cesc Fabregas reveals what it was like to play out of position for Spain amid Gareth Southgate’s decision to ‘AXE Trent Alexander-Arnold for Slovenia clash after midfield ‘experiment’ mis-fired

Cesc Fabregas believes fears of outfield players in unnatural positions are exaggerated as he reflects on his time being used in an unfamiliar role amid the furor over Gareth Southgate’s England team selection.

The Three Lions currently sit top of Group C ahead of their final match against Slovenia on Tuesday, but their last meeting, a 1-1 draw with Denmark, did little to settle the debate over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s inclusion midfield or Phil Foden. on the left flank.

Reports on Monday suggest that Southgate has decided to tackle one of these talking points, with him now set to replace the Liverpool star with Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher.

But Fabregas, who was deployed in a false nine position during Spain’s victorious Euro 2012 campaign, insisted the onus is on the player to fulfill the role he has been chosen for.

“It’s a super interesting debate because as you know we won the European Championship in 2012 while I played as a striker,” the 37-year-old told Rio Ferdinand. and Roman Kemp in the Legends Lounge. ‘[Andreas] Iniesta played as a left winger and David Silva as a right winger.

The 37-year-old was deployed in a more advanced role for Spain during their victorious Euro 2012 campaign, with teammate David Silva (left) also playing out of position in the tournament

“We were all in, shall we say, the wrong position. For me it’s not so much about the system or the position where the players have to be. You need the game intelligence and the personality to have an impact.”

Southgate, and his entire team, came under heavy criticism after their performance against Frankfurt on Thursday.

According to The Athletic, Gallagher will replace Alexander-Arnold – who plays as a right-back for the Reds – for the match against Slovenia.

Southgate and assistant manager Steve Holland are said to have worked with Alexander-Arnold for a number of months to prepare him for his unfamiliar role, but his performances alongside Declan Rice divided opinion among supporters and pundits.

Southgate had openly targeted the lack of balance in his squad after the lackluster stalemate with Denmark and lamented the lack of a natural replacement for Kalvin Phillips – a comment Gary Lineker said was ‘insulting’ to his players.

Southgate, who withdrew the full back after 54 minutes on Thursday, pushed Alexander-Arnold into new territory and said the tactical gamble was an ‘experiment’.

“I wanted to get Conor going; we needed some energy and more pressure,” Southgate admitted after the match. “He (Alexander-Arnold) has had moments where he has delivered what we thought he would do. We know it’s an experiment.

‘We know that we have no natural replacement for Kalvin Philips. We’re trying different things and right now we’re not flowing the way we want to.”

But Rice insisted ahead of the match against Slovenia that Alexander-Arnold has the necessary tools to play in midfield and beat the 25-year-old’s doubters.

Trent Alexander-Arnold started the first two games but will be dropped against Slovenia

Alexander-Arnold (left) was replaced by Gallagher (right) in Serbia’s win and Denmark’s draw

Fabregas, who led Italian side Como to Serie A last season, believes a manager should try to get his best players on the pitch and run the system from there.

‘I believe that you should put the best players on the field.’ He said. ‘Of course Gareth Southgate will have different opinions on what the best XI is, but for me I want to see the best players on the pitch and then it is up to the manager to find and adapt the patterns and positions on the pitch.’