JAMIE CARRAGHER SAYS Cesc Fabregas’ lack of “tactical intelligence” contributed to Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on Sunday.

Chelsea have taken just one point from their opening two Premier League fixtures and Fabregas has also been criticised for his slow start to the season. 

Blues boss José Mourinho usually opts to play an extra holding midfielder alongside Nemanja Matic for key matches at home and in Europe, with Fabregas further forward, but Carragher believes the plan failed to pay off at the Etihad Stadium.

“Why do you play Ramires?” Carragher asked as part of his analysis of the game for Sky Sports. “Because you’ve got someone in Cesc Fabregas who is a fantastic footballer, creates goals, scores goals, but he can’t defend — as we saw in the first 10 seconds when David Silva turns him and puts Sergio Aguero through.

“He lacks tactical intelligence, especially defensively. That’s one of the reasons Barcelona let Chelsea take him.”

Barcelona released a controversial statement upon the midfielder’s departure for Stamford Bridge in 2014, which highlighted what they believed to be an annual drop-off in form, referencing his decreased output in terms of goals and assists in the second half of campaigns.

“If you play him in there (central midfield), Fabregas needs protection from Matic and Ramires and he didn’t get that, especially from Ramires.

“The problems they had down that left side came from Ramires and Fabregas together.”

Fabregas was one of the star men as Chelsea won the title last season, however, racking up 18 assists in the Premier League alone.

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