Fabregas: ‘Como is learning from Arsenal, beginning to see our potential’

Cesc Fabregas called Como’s win over Parma an “important response” following their Champions League fixture. He sees the team learning from Arsenal and is starting to understand their future capabilities.

Como played their first home Serie A match this season. The Stadio Sinigaglia underwent renovations to meet UEFA standards, causing the team to play their initial three rounds away.

On Thursday, Como defeated RB Leipzig 4-1 in their first-ever Champions League game at home. Concerns arose regarding how the team would manage after stretching their resources.

Fabregas is pleased with Como's reaction

“Some players were tired, so we made changes, and I liked how others came off the bench,” Fabregas stated in his press conference. “This was a crucial response for the team, showing I can count on everyone. I’m very happy with the performance. This victory is significant for me as a coach because I’m starting to grasp what this team could become.”

“We faced many new situations this season. When you have 31 shots and score only once, you know opponents will adjust their defense. This risks conceding, which eventually happened.”

Fabregas saw new players in action, including Kaiki, who scored Como's second goal. “He’s already played for Brazil, bringing significant quality that will help us greatly. He enjoys defending, which was evident today. He’ll gradually integrate to provide what we need. In modern football, goal-scoring defenders are vital. Arsenal won the Premier League with goals from defenders and set pieces. Adding this capability gives us an advantage.”

Despite it being a Serie A match against Parma, Fabregas celebrated the final whistle with an intensity that matched his Champions League reaction. “My celebration reflected the game’s importance. I needed to see how the players’ minds would react after a Champions League fixture,” he explained. “If we don’t maintain the right level for 40 minutes, it becomes very difficult.”

Moise Kean started for the first time, replacing Tasos Douvikas upfront following his transfer from Fiorentina. “Douvikas isn’t the same player now as when he arrived, and the same will apply to Kean. This team demands different things than he's used to, so it takes time and hard work. I’m very pleased to have two excellent strikers,” Fabregas concluded.