Cesc Fabregas Opens Up on Como Journey from Serie B Unknown to Champions League Contender

Cesc Fabregas confessed he had no idea a football team existed in Como before joining the club. Despite his ties to the area, he never considered Como as a playing or coaching option until the opportunity arose. After a celebrated playing career with top clubs like Barcelona, Chelsea, and Arsenal, Fabregas chose to finish his playing days at Como in Serie B. This decision quickly shifted into a managerial role, where he has since steered the team from obscurity in Italy’s second division all the way to their debut qualification for the Champions League.

At the Festival dello Sport in Trento, Fabregas revealed the move came more from gut feeling than a deep knowledge of the club’s history. “The Como project started in quite a strange way,” he said. “I had a few proposals, but I just felt this was the right decision. Sometimes you’ve just got to follow your gut.” He added that although he had visited Como on vacation, he hadn’t realized there was a football club there.

How Antonio Conte Influenced Fabregas’ Tactical Approach

Fabregas began managing Como officially in 2023, yet his ideas on coaching were shaped during his playing days. While he played under renowned managers such as Arsene Wenger and Vicente del Bosque, it was Antonio Conte who gave him a new perspective on tactics. Fabregas described how Conte’s focus on details changed his understanding of the game.

“The first time I saw that football was changing was when I met Conte at Chelsea. I was already 29, I had won a lot, but for example Arsene Wenger didn’t work much on tactics at Arsenal, even if he was one of the best in the world. The same is true of Del Bosque. With Conte, I saw this change. He was focused on the details. It was surprising and weighed on me at first, because I couldn’t understand why someone had to tell me where to pass the ball, nobody had ever done that before.”

Maintaining Identity and Principles at Como

Fabregas has made tactical clarity and strong team identity central to his coaching style at Como. The results show: Como sits eighth in Serie A after five games, earning 10 points and trailing league leaders Roma by just three points. He explained his mindset before every match.

“The question I ask myself before every game is, how do I want to lose? I want to lose with my ideas. Because if you lose when having changed your identity and ideas, then the defeat is double. Sometimes the opponent is better than you, but meanwhile you learn some lessons, and you play with your philosophy.”

Learning and Growing Among Europe’s Elite Coaches

Although Fabregas’ rise has been swift, he remains grounded and acknowledges he is still learning. He has experienced heated moments on the sidelines, including a clash with Massimiliano Allegri, but views these as part of maturing emotionally as a coach.

“There have been some tense exchanges with colleagues, it’s true. I am young and still quite emotional. I hope that when I get it wrong, a more experienced coach will tell me. For example, Gian Piero Gasperini, who I have great respect for. I like to listen to people who know more than me.”

• Club: Como
• Current League Position: 8th in Serie A
• Points from First Five Matches: 10
• Distance from League Leaders (Roma): 3 points
• Year Started Managing: 2023