Key Takeaways
- Cesc Fabregas describes Antonio Conte’s Chelsea training sessions as the most physically demanding of his entire career
- The Como boss will face his former manager when Napoli visit the Stadio Sinigaglia this Saturday at 5:00 PM UK time
- Fabregas admits the tough regime eventually left him feeling “incredible” after an initial four-month adaptation period
Como manager Cesc Fabregas has spoken about the extreme physical demands Antonio Conte placed on players during their time together at Chelsea. The Spanish coach says no other manager pushed him harder on the training pitch.
The pair will meet as rivals this weekend when Como host Napoli in Serie A. The clash kicks off at 6:00 PM local time at the Stadio Sinigaglia.
Fabregas, who approaches his 39th birthday, worked under Conte at Stamford Bridge between 2016 and 2018. During a press conference, he reflected on those challenging sessions in West London.
“I learned a great deal from Antonio,” Fabregas said. “He made me suffer so much on a purely physical level. He was always demanding pace, intensity, and full speed. Nobody made me suffer more.”
The former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder explained that the first few months were particularly tough. However, his body eventually adjusted to the Italian’s rigorous methods.
“After four or five months of adapting, by December I was flying,” he continued. “I felt physically incredible. Once I got used to his mentality, I really believed in what he was doing.”
Fabregas made 86 competitive appearances for Chelsea under Conte. He scored ten goals and registered 22 assists during that spell.
Now in his first managerial role, Fabregas is impressing with Como. The club is currently challenging for a top-four finish in the Italian league. Saturday’s fixture gives him the chance to test his tactical ideas against the man who once drove him to physical exhaustion.