Spain's Cesc Fabregas holds the trophy at the end of the Euro 2012 final (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Cesc Fabregas defended the way his side played

Former Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas has hit back at former boss Arsene Wenger and Spain’s critics

The Gunners manager felt that the Euro 2012 winners were negative in the way they played – with the playmaker regularly playing in a ‘false nine’ position as Vicente Del Bosque declined to select a striker.

“From our point of view it has been difficult because we have had a lot of pressure from the press, but once again this team proved everybody wrong and even we are impressed with what we have achieved,” he explained.

“We are very proud of the way we play. If we have won things for the last four years it is because of the way we play, because we believed in that style.

“We did not have to change anything. We did not have to prove people wrong because they thought it was boring, and it is not about what we won but how we did it.

“I think we have impressed the world with our technical ability and tactically, because it is not just about going forward scoring goals.

“Defensively we have been very compact and strong, only conceding one goal and scoring 12. I don’t think that is a boring team.”