News Focus
- Como qualify for the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history
- Cesc Fabregas compares his managerial experience at the club to attending a ‘football university’
- The Spanish coach suggests he is not rushing to leave despite interest from major European sides
- A 4-1 victory against Cremonese, combined with AC Milan’s defeat, secured the historic qualification
Cesc Fabregas has explained how he predicted Como would reach the Champions League this season. The former Spain midfielder also stressed that he wants to stay at the Italian side. He described his time there as “like going to football university every day.”
Fabregas made history two years ago when he took the small club to Europe. This happened after they moved up from Serie B. Now, he has gone further. His team qualified for the Champions League after AC Milan lost at San Siro.
Como beat Cremonese 4-1 away from home. This loss sent Cremonese down to a lower division. At the same time, Como heard they were in the Champions League for the first time ever.
Fabregas spoke to DAZN Italia. He said, “All my life, I have had feelings about things. Even when I change players during matches. The day before we played Parma, I felt that two wins would put us in the Champions League.”
He showed his players a video. It was about a cyclist. The cyclist was in sixth place. Then he pushed hard at the end and won the race. Fabregas said his team did the same thing this season.
The team had some problems. They lost two games and drew with Udinese. They knew they needed to win many games in a row. But they always felt they could do it.
They needed other teams to lose to be sure of qualification. But Fabregas did not ask about the other matches. He did not want to know what was happening at San Siro or Stadio Bentegodi.
Fabregas won many trophies as a player. But where does this moment rank? He said it is very high on his list. He explained why. “We did it in a special way. The team is full of young players. We have 15 players under 23 years old. It is a masterpiece from the whole team. They listened. They always wanted to do more. They improved at the right time.”
“I must praise these players,” he said. “Coaches try to help. We give advice. We tell them where to run. But the players do the work on the pitch. I am very happy for the people of Como. They deserve this happiness.”
Fabregas came to Como when they were in Serie B. He helped build the club from nothing. He even designed the training ground. He said, “I had to make many decisions here. I was given control of the football side. When we started, there was almost nothing.”
He spoke to two physios today. They were there four years ago when he came to play. They did not have a training ground then. They did massages on tables in the back room of a bar. Now they are in the Champions League.
He has been a coach for two and a half years. He thanked his staff. They push him and inspire him. He knows he is difficult sometimes. But he always tries to do more.
He said he has grown a lot. “It has been like going to football university every day. I had to make so many decisions. When I leave here one day, I will just be a coach.”
Many big clubs have been linked with Fabregas this year. But now he has more reason to stay. Como will play in the biggest club competition in the world. This might also be true for Nico Paz. Real Madrid have a buy-back clause. They will decide his future.
The Spanish coach said, “I am very happy here. Timing is important. But I am very happy with our work. We always want more. Life is long. I just turned 39. Jose Mourinho said there is a long way to 80. That is 40 more years of work.”
“You must not rush your work. You need patience. You must keep learning. One day when you feel ready, you can move up. Anyway, Como have moved up. They are in the Champions League,” Fabregas finished.