LONDON: Cesc Fabregas needed just 48 hours to pick up his first trophy with Barcelona after a dramatic Spanish Super Cup final against bitter rivals Real Madrid.
Fabregas marked his £40mil arrival from Arsenal by coming on as a late substitute and being at the centre of a mass Nou Camp brawl.
“I’m very pleased. It’s a great start winning and with such positive sensations,” Fabregas told Spanish state television as Barca’s players paraded the trophy around the Nou Camp.
Mayhem erupted after he was fouled by Real left-back Marcelo. The Brazilian was sent off as every player and most of the backroom staffs piled in.
On a high: Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is hugged by Cesc Fabregas after they won the Super Cup final second leg match against Real Madrid at the Nou Camp on Wednesday. — APFabregas was treated by medical staff but was fit enough to come back on for the last few minutes.
By then the referee had also red-carded Barcelona’s David Villa and Real midfielder Mesut Ozil.
Jose Mourinho will also be in hot water with Spanish officials after he was spotted poking Barca assistant Tito Vilanova in the eye.
The Special One’s side were beaten 3-2 on the night to slump to an aggregate 5-4 defeat. Lionel Messi hit the dramatic late winner.
Andres Iniesta had put the European champions ahead early on after a sublime through pass from Messi.
Cristiano Ronaldo equalised from close range with Barca complaining the former Manchester United star was offside.
Messi put Barca 2-1 up before the break when he latched on to Gerard Pique’s cheeky backheel in the box and finished calmly past Iker Casillas.
Karim Benzema levelled again before Messi struck the decisive goal with two minutes remaining.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was overcome with emotion.
“Words fail me in how to congratulate my players on how they played tonight,” he said.
“They are extraordinary and legendary players.”
Mourinho, who has now failed to win in eight visits to the Nou Camp, remained defiant.
“If we said we were happy when we hadn’t won a title we would be hypocrites,” the Portuguese said.
“It’s a small title, but we aren’t happy we didn’t win it. What we are happy with is the evolution of the team. We did very well in both games. We were fantastic.” — Agencies
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