Spain icon Cesc Fabregas praised Liverpool star Cody Gakpo as a “functional player” with dangerous abilities amid Euro 2024 performances

BBC pundit Cesc Fabregas heaped praise on Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo for his influential performances in the Euro 2024 competition. Fabregas called Gakpo a “functional player” with abilities that makes him dangerous and a constant goal threat for his team.

The 25-year-old scored a deflected goal for Netherlands in a 2-1 victory over Poland during the first group stage game. Gakpo delivered a strong performance against France in a controversial 0-0 draw involving a highly-debatable disallowed goal from English referees.

Fabregas has earned praised from football fans for his astute analysis of the players which lacks bias and carries insight. The former Spain midfielder understands the technical aspects of the game and brings a refreshing perspective as a football pundit

Speaking in the BBC Sport studio before the France game with the Netherlands, Fabregas highlighted the impact of Cody. He said:

“He played well in the last game. He is a threat. I think he’s a functional player. What I’ve seen from him at Liverpool, it seems he’s the type of player who needs to be told constantly what to do. He’s got great ability. He’s not the most creative player, but he’s dangerous, has an eye for goal, good movement, attacks the space well, tries a one-vs-one and you can see his big improvement in the tournament.”

Last season, Gakpo struggled with consistency and form with the Reds as his versatility acted against him. The Dutchman faced criticism after struggling to impact the game as a striker during the FA Cup loss against Manchester United in mid-March.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp accepted the blame for Gakpo’s struggle in form due to him playing in multiple positions. The legendary manager played the Dutchman at his preferred left wing during the final stages of the season, generating drastic improvement.

The Reds suffered an anti-climactic end to their season as many players’ forms dropped drastically but Cody delivered consistent performances. The 25-year-old has showcased his immense qualities at his preferred position which has gained praise from both fans and pundits.

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Gakpo could play an important role under new head coach Arne Slot next season with their shared nationalities potentially helping. Furthermore, Slot prefers a more buildup style of play than direct attacking and counter-attacking football which could benefit the Dutch forward.