Como’s 4-1 Champions League win over Leipzig became a defining European night for Nico Paz, but Fabio Capello’s verdict carried a familiar demand: two assists and a Man of the Match award were not enough for a player he believes can reach the very top.
Nico Paz shines as Como overwhelm Leipzig
The 80-year-old former Real Madrid coach, who led the Spanish club in 1996-97 and again in 2006-07, spoke after Como’s emphatic victory in the Sky Sport studio. His criticism of Paz was delivered with a playful edge, yet it underlined the scale of his expectations for the Argentina international.
Paz created two goals in Como’s four-goal display, including the assist for Diao, and collected the official player-of-the-match prize. Capello nevertheless argued that the midfielder had operated at roughly 75 per cent of his capacity, saying he lacked the sharpness and free movement normally associated with his game.
He was especially unconvinced by the pass leading to Diao’s goal, insisting it had not been as outstanding as it might have appeared. For Capello, the performance did not warrant placing Paz among the evening’s leading figures, precisely because the youngster is capable of a higher level.
“I expect a great deal from you because you can offer much more,” Capello told Paz. He pressed the Como midfielder over his current physical condition, asking where he stood on a scale from zero to 100 after a night in which he had still set up two goals.
Paz’s reply was measured: “There is always room to improve.”
Capello described the Canary Islands-born midfielder as a personal favourite and predicted that he could become one of the best players in world football. Real Madrid retain 50 per cent of Paz’s rights, leaving his progress in Como closely relevant to the club where he developed.
For Paz, however, the occasion was about Como and the decision to remain with the Italian side. “These are the nights that made me want to stay at Como,” he said after the match. He called it a historic evening, praising an “incredible” team display and the squad’s eagerness to take on Leipzig.
Como’s 4-1 result gives the club far more than a memorable Champions League scoreline. It offers a European statement built around a young creator who, even after deciding the match with two assists, has been told that his standard must rise again.
SEO Title: Nico Paz Leads Como Past Leipzig as Capello Demands More
SEO Description: Nico Paz registered two assists in Como’s 4-1 Champions League victory over Leipzig, while Fabio Capello praised his potential but insisted he can improve further.
