Cesc Fabregas Opens Up About His Journey Leading Como From Serie B to the Champions League
Cesc Fabregas has revealed he was unaware of Como as a football club before accepting the challenge of managing them. The former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder took a leap of faith that turned a modest Serie B side into a team qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
The Unexpected Beginning of the Como Project
Fabregas spoke about how his path to the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia was unplanned. Despite having links to the area and a decorated playing career at clubs like Barcelona, Chelsea, and Arsenal, he hadn’t even considered Como until an opportunity arose near the end of his playing days. He quickly transitioned into coaching after joining the Italian club in Serie B, leading them on a remarkable rise up the ranks.
“The Como project started in quite a strange way, because I had a few proposals, but I just felt this was the right decision. Sometimes you’ve just got to follow your gut,” Fabregas said at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, as reported by Football Italia. “Funnily enough, I’d been to Como a few times on vacation, but I didn’t even know there was a football team here.”
The Tactical Influence of Antonio Conte
Though Fabregas began coaching officially in 2023, he credits his tactical understanding to experiences as a player, especially under Antonio Conte. While Fabregas won numerous titles including the Premier League, La Liga, and the World Cup, it was Conte’s detailed approach that reshaped his view of football strategy.
“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,” Fabregas explained.
Holding Firm to His Principles
This focus on precision has shaped Fabregas’ management style at Como, where he prioritizes maintaining the team’s identity regardless of results. Under his guidance, Como currently sits eighth in Serie A, having collected 10 points from their opening five matches, trailing league leaders Roma by just three points.
“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,” Fabregas said.
Learning From Experienced Managers
Despite his fast rise, Fabregas stays grounded and welcomes advice from veteran coaches. He has faced tense moments on the sidelines, including a confrontation with Massimiliano Allegri, but sees these as part of growing emotionally as a manager.
“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,” Fabregas concluded.
- Club: Como
- Current League Position: 8th in Serie A
- Points from First Five Matches: 10
- Gap to League Leaders Roma: 3 points
- Managerial Start: 2023
