On the shores of Lake Como, Cesc Fàbregas sees a project measured in more than silverware. Speaking at the Festival dello Sport, the Como 1907 coach outlined why he has stayed in Italy, how he wants his side to play, and the demands awaiting a club preparing for its first campaign with Champions League football.
Key takeaways
- Fàbregas says the development of players such as Lucas Da Cunha is as meaningful to him as winning trophies.
- Nico Paz was highlighted as another example of Como’s faith in young talent.
- The former Spain midfielder rejected opportunities elsewhere, including an approach from Inter, to continue Como’s long-term work.
- Como will have to adapt to a new rhythm of three matches per week while competing in the Champions League.
- Fàbregas remains in regular contact with Arsène Wenger and would welcome a post-match conversation with Gian Piero Gasperini.
A coach committed to Como’s identity
Fàbregas acknowledged that managers are ultimately often assessed through their trophy cabinets, but he offered a broader definition of success in Como. The progress of young players, with Da Cunha named specifically, carries the weight of a major achievement for him. Paz, too, represents a recruitment and development bet that the coach takes particular pride in.
That outlook is tied to an uncompromising footballing idea. Fàbregas said he prepares every match with the intention of playing in Como’s own style, even if that approach brings defeat. For him, losing without abandoning the identity being built at the club would still be preferable to discarding it for a different route.
The same conviction informed his decision to remain in Lombardy despite interest from elsewhere. Inter were among the clubs to make an offer, but Fàbregas said he did not feel compelled to leave the group or walk away from the identity Como are shaping.
Learning through a new European challenge
Although his coaching career is gathering pace, Fàbregas described himself as still feeling like a young player on the touchline. Wenger, his former manager and a lasting influence, remains a regular sounding board as he continues to learn the craft.
The next opportunity for learning will come from across the dugout. Fàbregas spoke warmly of Gian Piero Gasperini, his forthcoming opponent, saying it would be a genuine gift if a coach of Gasperini’s stature were to point out an error after the game and discuss it with him.
Alongside the European schedule, Fàbregas stressed the importance of producing Italian players through Como’s academy. The club now faces an unfamiliar season: Champions League exposure, domestic commitments and the physical and organisational strain of playing three times in a week. For a side whose rise has brought it to the continental stage, preserving its identity while handling that new calendar is the next test.
