"But he did it the way he likes it. He has his own vision of football and, in the end, he is where he is with it and you have to respect that."
Monday 10 June 2019 18:27, UK
Cesc Fabregas claims that Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri is a "very stubborn" character, following the Spaniard's departure from the Blues midway through last season.
The Spaniard made just six Premier League appearances for Sarri's Chelsea in 2018/19, compared to 32 the season before.
Fabregas left Stamford Bridge in January to join Monaco on a free transfer, helping them avoid relegation from Ligue 1.
Fabregas said of his former manager: "He is very superstitious, he is very stubborn in this way.
"He is a manager with his own ideas and he doesn't move from them much.
"He has an idea of how he wants to play and the football that he really wants to play. He doesn't move from it. No matter what you tell him, no matter what you advise him, no matter what your opinion is, he will never change.
"But he did it the way he likes it. He has his own vision of football and, in the end, he is where he is with it and you have to respect that."
Fabregas praised fellow former Chelsea central midfielder Frank Lampard, who guided Derby to the Sky Bet Championship play-off final last season in his debut season in management.
Lampard has been linked with the Chelsea manager's job, speculation which the former England international has dismissed as "obvious".
"I think he has done a really impressive job, it's his first ever job. He changed many things," Fabregas added.
"He had a very difficult squad, an older squad full of players at the end of their contracts as well, he renewed completely the squad, took on young players.
"He played a really aggressive style, attacking football. Really for a first-ever job, I think he has done really good."
