Como responded to their Champions League disappointment with an assured 3-1 win away to Fiorentina at the Franchi, a result that gave Cesc Fabregas both immediate relief and another indication of how his side are growing through an unusually demanding autumn.
A complete response in Florence
The victory came in the seventh round of Serie A, shortly after Como’s defeat against Feyenoord in Europe. Fabregas considered the display in Florence one of his side’s most rounded performances, even if he identified one area that still caused concern.
- Como won 3-1 against Fiorentina at the Franchi.
- The match followed their Champions League loss to Feyenoord.
- Fabregas felt Como suffered too much from Fiorentina’s set pieces, particularly before the interval.
- He stressed that defending those moments requires a collective determination not to concede.
Beyond those situations, the Como coach said his team had reached a very high level. His preparation, he explained, is aimed at producing as many scoring chances as possible, and this time his players were clinical when opportunities arrived.
Fabregas placed the result in the wider unpredictability of football. He referred to Napoli’s late goal in a match he had watched the previous day, and to Como’s own experience at Frosinone, as examples of how matches can turn on moments that are not always easily explained. Fiorentina, he added, remain a very strong opponent.
Liberali takes his chance
Among the individual notes from the afternoon, Fabregas singled out Liberali, praising the young player’s temperament as much as his technical contribution.
The coach described him as an excellent footballer with the right mentality, someone who does not play with fear. Competition is intense in his position, however, and Fabregas noted that Como must find room for several players as the season is still only in October.
Liberali was not fully fit, but Fabregas believed he played with personality and made an impact. The manager was especially pleased by the player’s commitment in training and his ability to make use of the opportunity offered to him.
In Fabregas’ view, the performance carried a message to the squad: Liberali had shown that he is ready when called upon.
Managing a new European schedule
Como now prepare to host Manchester United while living through their first Champions League campaign. Fabregas called the experience remarkable, joking that the packed calendar has left him with little time to see his family.
For a club adjusting to European competition, the central issue is the management of energy. Fabregas explained that he rested Douvikas and Da Cunha against Feyenoord with the Fiorentina match in mind, a decision made within a short turnaround between fixtures.
- Como had limited preparation time before travelling to Florence.
- Fabregas focused training on the areas in which his team could hurt Fiorentina.
- Douvikas and Da Cunha were rested in the Feyenoord match as part of workload management.
- Manchester United are next visitors as Como continue their Champions League schedule.
The Como coach accepts that a side entering this new territory will have uneven spells. There will be highs and lows, he said, and it is his responsibility to handle both. For now, the win in Florence offers the right kind of answer: a league performance built on chances created, chances taken and a young player stepping forward when the season’s pace begins to test the whole group.
