The Spanish international spoke at a press conference ahead of Sunday’s Club World Cup final and was persistently questioned about what kind of threat Neymar would pose on the European champions.
”If we have the ball, Neymar won’t be in the game. We’re focussing on ourselves and on Santos globally as an opponent. We won’t change the way we think.”
The former Arsenal player also refused to be drawn on the future of the young Brazilian ace who has been linked with a number of clubs in Europe, including Barcelona.
”Tomorrow Neymar is just another opponent. He’ll want to score three or four goals. In the future we’ll see what happens to him.”
Fàbregas also insisted that his team-mates are determined to win the Club World Cup for their injured striker David Villa and their assistant coach, Tito Vilanova, who’s recovering from surgery, after having a tumour removed from his parotid gland.
”We want to dedicate the Club World Cup to Tito Vilanova and Villa.”
”This final is especially exciting because you never know when we’ll be able to play it again.”
”We want to wear the badge that identifies the champions of the world for a whole season,” the twenty four year old said.
