COMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 10: Cesc Fabregas, manager of Como 1907, celebrates after the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 Liga Stage MD1 match between Como 1907 and RB Leipzig at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on September 10, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Cesc Fabregas ‘followed my lord’ on Como, hails Lucas Da Cunha, Antonio Conte at Chelsea ‘realised that football has changed’ and wants to be ‘defeated with my thoughts’.
The Spaniard was already a star player for Barcelona, Chelsea and Arsenal, but ended his playing career at Como and moved into coaching just months after hanging up his boots.
“The Como project started quite strangely because I had several proposals, but I just felt it was the right decision. Sometimes you just have to follow your instincts,” Fabregas said at the Festival dello Sport event in Trento.
“The funny thing is, I’ve been to Como on holiday a few times, but I didn’t even know there was a football team here.”
Fabregas changed the history of Como
They are certainly famous now as Fabregas took them from Serie B to qualification for the Champions League, the first European experience in the club’s history.
Among the only players to share the journey with him is Lucas Da Cunha, who has just won his senior debut for France as a result of those performances.
“Da Cunha has an incredible mentality and hunger, so he deserves all the accolades. I’d rather have a player with less talent but more hunger to have an incredible career than someone who has earned his money and done his due.”
Fabregas has a particular motto for his football, which is to focus on personality at all costs.
“The question I ask myself before every game is, how do I want to lose? I want to lose with my thoughts. Because if you lose when you change your personality and ideas, the defeat is double. Sometimes the opponent is better than you, but in the meantime, you learn and play with your own philosophy.”
Fabregas began his coaching career in 2023 but admits the job predates his playing days and the Italian was after a specific statement.
“I saw football change for the first time when I met Conte at Chelsea. I was already 29 years old, I had won a lot, but for example Arsene Wenger, even if he was one of the best in the world, did not work much on tactics at Arsenal. The same is true for Del Bosque.
“With Conte, I saw that change. He paid attention to the details. It was surprising and at first it was difficult for me because I couldn’t understand why someone had to tell me where to pass the ball, nobody had done it before.
“After 10 days of training, the defender passed the ball to me, I immediately sent it to Diego Costa and he scored. I thought I did well, but at the end of the match, Conte shouted that everything should be done differently.”
Fabregas still draws the ire of some coaches because of his touchline counterpart, particularly clashing with Max Allegri at Milan.
“There were some tense exchanges with my colleagues, that’s true. I’m young and still quite emotional. I hope that if I get it wrong, a more experienced coach will tell me. For example, Gian Piero Gasperini, whom I respect a lot. I like to listen to people who know more than me.”