Ahead of Como’s crucial Serie A clash against Roma on Sunday, head coach Cesc Fabregas delivered a characteristically insightful and direct pre-match press conference. He delved into his tactical philosophy, squad choices, and the remarkable standing his team currently holds with just ten games left in the season.
Como enters the weekend occupying fourth place in Serie A, a significant achievement that, according to Fabregas, shouldn’t distract the team. He emphasized a pragmatic approach when questioned about their Champions League qualification spot. “If we make it, fantastic; if not, we’ll keep developing,” Fabregas stated, as reported by TuttoMercatoWeb. “I would be annoyed if my players discussed the Champions League right now. Not because of the topic itself, but because it’s premature. If it doesn’t happen, does that mean we’ve failed?”
Addressing the upcoming opponents, Fabregas expressed respect for Roma while exuding confidence in his own squad. “They had an extraordinary transfer window, elevating their standard more than any other team. We need to play a perfect game,” he commented. He drew parallels to Como’s previous victories against Napoli and Juventus, asserting, “We must play our game, and the result will reflect our performance.”
Fabregas downplayed the idea of the match being a “must-win,” characterizing it simply as “one more important game” rather than a decisive moment in their season.
Offering tactical insights, Fabregas elaborated on Nico Paz’s development. When asked about potentially deploying the Argentine in a deeper midfield role, the Como coach was unequivocal: “Not yet. He is a trequartista, an instinctive player. A deeper role demands a specific understanding of the game, an ability to analyze situations. That’s not Nico’s current stage. He isn’t a Perrone or a Baturina.”
Fabregas was equally direct regarding Sergi Roberto possibly stepping in for the injured Perrone, using an unexpected comparison to illustrate his point. “Do you believe Guardiola’s Manchester City always builds from the back? They don’t,” he asserted. “Sometimes the opponent presses intensely, sometimes you lack a player like Busquets or Piqué. When a coach doesn’t trust his team’s initial build-up phase, you must work diligently to cultivate that trust.”
Regarding Perrone’s condition, he trained individually and is anticipated to rejoin the main group on Saturday, though his availability for Sunday’s match remains unconfirmed.
