Cesc Fabregas has outlined the challenge facing his Como side as they prepare to host champions Napoli this weekend, while also addressing his team's ambitions for European qualification. The Serie A match at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia is scheduled for Saturday evening, with Como sitting fifth in the table on 61 points, just three behind Juventus. Fabregas, speaking at a pre-match press conference, acknowledged the strength of the opposition but insisted his team would approach the game with their characteristic mentality.
Fabregas paid tribute to Napoli manager Antonio Conte, under whom he played at Chelsea, for maintaining the team's level despite a season plagued by injuries to key players. "Napoli has grown so much in recent years, and now the demands are high," Fabregas said. He also confirmed his squad is largely fit for the encounter, with only one absentee, while Sergi Roberto is not yet ready to play a full match. The former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder framed the fixture as one between two teams with a positive footballing mindset.
The Como coach, now in his first full season in charge, reflected on his own playing days under Conte, admitting the Italian's intense methods initially caused him significant physical strain. "He made me suffer a lot in terms of physical demands, running, intensity, always going flat out," Fabregas revealed. However, he credited that period with his peak physical condition later that same season and suggested he now seeks to instill a similar, albeit differently applied, intensity in his own squad.
With European qualification a tangible possibility, Fabregas was cautious when asked specifically about the Champions League, preferring to focus on the immediate task. "I don't answer on Champions League," he stated, before explaining his preference for a game-by-game approach until the final league standings are confirmed. He noted that final league positions and the outcome of the Coppa Italia could still alter the European landscape, making premature planning difficult.
Fabregas also offered a broader reflection on the state of the game, describing Paris Saint-Germain's recent Champions League victory over Bayern Munich as "the best match of my life" from a spectator's perspective. He explained that he uses such high-level examples as teaching tools for his players, creating video analysis to compare their own performances with the elite. Away from tactics, he emphasized the culture he is building at Como, sharing an emotional anecdote about a staff member working late after the Coppa Italia semi-final defeat to illustrate the collective mentality he values.
Regarding refereeing controversies, a topic of intense debate in Italy, Fabregas struck a conciliatory tone. He argued against attributing malice to officials, suggesting that, like players and coaches, referees operate at different levels of ability. "They should just referee, while people pay for a ticket to see the show," he said, advocating for a focus on the spectacle rather than officiating disputes.
