Cesc Fabregas picks out toughest Premier League rivals – dominated by Man Utd
Cesc Fabregas knows a thing or two about successful teams and the trios they are built around.
After leaving Arsenal for Barcelona in 2011, the Spaniard made up a midfield which also included Xavi and Andres Iniesta. In front of that triumvirate was a front-three comprised of Lionel Messi, David Villa and Pedro.
And asked about his toughest opponent during his time in English football, it was another trio, this time the Manchester United triple threat of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.
As a three, the United forwards only played two seasons together, before Ronaldo left for Real Madrid and Tevez swapped red for blue in Manchester, joining City. But during the 2007/08 and 08/09 campaigns, the Red Devils won back-to-back Premier League titles.
During that first campaign, the three racked up a combined 57 goals in the league alone – more than 14 of the 19 remaining clubs in the top flight.
And their exploits didn’t stop on these shores either, scoring or assisting 108 goals in just 140 appearances in all competitions. They also managed to score all of United’s knockout goals as they lifted the Champions League for the second time.
It has them in the conversation for the greatest ever forward line in Premier League history – although Liverpool ’s Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino would have something to say about that.
“Tevez for a year with Rooney and Ronaldo was just breathtaking, it was out of this world,” Gary Neville said in 2020. “Not just because of the quality of the players, but there was a selfish, horrible, nasty determination with those three.
“Ronaldo in a different way on the pitch, he wouldn’t go around kicking and hassling people, hustling, he was immense in terms of his performance levels, but Rooney and Tevez were street fighters but with unbelievable ability and there was something of that front three. The best front three in the Premier League, you’ll never beat those three for me.”
Rooney named Tevez as his favourite strike partner during his illustrious Old Trafford career. “I just loved our connection. The two of us up front, we complimented each other really well,” he told SportBible earlier this year.
“Normally if I played with Louis Saha, Ruud van Nistelrooy or Robin van Persie – these strikers were always the No9 and I’d play as a No10.
“With Tevez we could rotate, I’d be the No9, he’d take the No9 spot and I’d be No10. When we lost the ball we’d be like two bulls trying to get it back. As a strike partner, he was the one I enjoyed playing with the most.”
Along with the United trio, Fabregas also named Jose Mourinho ’s Chelsea side. The Special One arrived in English football and ushered in an era of dominance at Stamford Bridge.
In his first season in charge – which was also Fabregas’ breakthrough term – Chelsea emphatically took the title from the Gunners. Amassing 95 points, 12 clear of the Gunners and conceding just 15 in the process.
