Source: Daily_Mail
Cesc Fabregas compares Ipswich to a rugby team
Cesc Fabregas has accused Ipswich of resorting to 'rugby' to beat Arsenal in their Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Portman Road.[LNB]The Championship side were 1-0 winners on Wednesday, three days after suffering a 7-0 thrashing at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup third round. [LNB]Tamas Priskin's 78th-minute strike came after Arsenal failed to clear a high ball over the top from Colin Healy.[LNB]The Gunners captain said: 'I don't know if it is long ball or it is a rugby kick, but it worked for them. [LNB]'In England, a lot of teams play like that and it works for them. They create chances like that and it is their football. We just have to put the ball on the floor and try to play football, that is what we do.[LNB][LNB] Fighting back: Fabregas compared Ipswich's style of play to a rugby team following Arsenal's Carling Cup defeat[LNB]'Credit to them because they playedwell, but Arsenal made the football. The other team refused to play(and) they were lucky to score with a long ball. [LNB]'I can only remember twoopportunities for them, but it was from a long, long ball becauseplaying football they could not really get behind us or attack. It is abit disappointing because I think we were the much better team.' [LNB]Ipswich's caretaker boss onWednesday, Ian McParland, has now left the club to make way for managerPaul Jewell but he said: 'I wonder what he was expecting. Did he thinkwe would beat Arsenal playing the 'Arsenal way'? [LNB]'We went into the game on the backof a tanking and we were down to the bare bones player-wise. Arsenalhave some of the best players in the world and I asked an honest groupof lads to put in a full shift, which is exactly what they gave me. [LNB]'We passed it when we could and we got it down the sides but, of course, there were times when we had to clear it. [LNB]'Fabregas can say what he likes but it was 1-0 to Ipswich and that's all that bothers me.' [LNB] On target: Priskin celebrates following his 78th-minute strike [LNB]Fabregas did apologise to Arsenalfans on his Twitter site, saying: 'Sorry about last night guys. Badperformance. I know you are all very disappointed but it is up to usnow to make it right. We owe you many.' [LNB]The Gunners captain accepts his sidehave a problem clearing high balls but he also said the Portman Roadpitch prevented Arsenal putting on a display similar to Chelsea'sdemolition of Ipswich at Stamford Bridge. [LNB]Fabregas said: 'We try to improve, of course. We look at videos and try to improve everything we can. [LNB]'It is not the same to play atStamford Bridge as it is to come here. Here they play in front oftheir fans, they are more motivated, the pitch is not as good asStamford Bridge, so they play their game.Now we will see how they cope at the Emirates against us.'[LNB] Ready for revenge: Fabregas insists Arsenal will overturn the deficit at the Emirates [LNB]But McParland dismissed criticism ofthe pitch, saying: 'Anybody in the game will tell you Portman Road hasone of the best surfaces around. [LNB]'His comments about the pitch are rubbish. He doesn't know what he's talking about.'[LNB]Fabregas's outburst is reminiscentof Arsene Wenger's after a challenge by Ryan Shawcross on HeurelhoGomes in Stoke's 2-1 defeat by Tottenham last August. [LNB]The Arsenal manager said: 'You cannot say it is football any more. It is more rugby on the goalkeepers than football.' [LNB]Stoke boss Tony Pulis calledWenger's comments 'very, very poor'. The club also sent complaints tothe FA, the Premier League and Arsenal. [LNB] History: Wenger (left) and Jewell will renew their acquaintances at the Emirates[LNB]Fabregas's observations will addspice to the second leg at the Emirates on Tuesday week, when Ipswichwill be under the guidance of Jewell, who was watching from the standson Wednesday.[LNB]Jewell and Wenger already havehistory in a Carling Cup semi-final. In 2006 Jewell, then in charge ofWigan, responded angrily to Wenger's suggestion that Jason Roberts had'left his foot in' during a second-half collision with goalkeeperManuel Almunia. [LNB]Jewell said at the time: 'I had abit of an Arsene Wenger moment because I didn't see the incident, butArsene turned round and started moaning. [LNB]'I just told Arsene to look after Arsenal and leave me to look after my team.' [LNB]Coincidentally, Wigan won the firstleg 1-0 with a Paul Scharner goal in the 78th minute and went throughon away goals after losing the second leg 2-1.[LNB] Don't throw it away! Djourou says misfiring Gunners can't take Carling Cup for grantedIpswich 1 Arsenal 0: Priskin stars as Tractor Boys motor to shock cup winWenger blames fatigue for Gunners shock Carling Cup defeat at IpswichARSENAL FC
