Cristian Brocchi, former coach and consultant, has delivered a decisive analysis on Italian football and the mistrust surrounding the work of Cesc Fabregas at Céme. According to Brocchi, Céme’s project is clear and consistent: “Céme has a well-defined identity because it works on principles, regardless of the playing system. It always has a strategy, adapts, but never betrays its way of conceiving football.” A philosophy that, according to him, irritates part of the Italian football world: “If Fabregas asks to widen the game by two meters, in Italy they make fun of him. That’s what happened. Those who criticize him do not understand why, but the answers exist. The truth is that it bothers them that he pays attention to results.” Brocchi also criticizes a certain Italian tactical culture, which he considers rigid and cautious: “Many Italians are happier when they see teams defending in front of their own box. They offer nothing, don’t play at all, win 1-0 and say: ‘Anyway, in Italy, the important thing is to win.’ With this mentality, we find ourselves years behind many other countries.” The former coach also takes aim at those who accuse tiki-taka of harming Italian football: “Someone said these past days that tiki-taka has damaged Italian football because we copied … I say: what are you talking about? Copying, learning, watching others, getting inspired, that’s what can be useful for us in the future. There are people stuck on outdated ideas.” According to calciomercato.com, these statements from Brocchi have quickly sparked numerous reactions in the Italian football world.
