The new life of Cesc Fábregas, the fashion coach in Italy: “I want to excite”

Italy looks closely at Serie B. There, in the Second Division, a world champion surprises everyone. It’s Cesc Fabregas. In his first three games as coach of a professional team (he had been in the reserve team previously), he has seven points out of a possible 9. They are third and would play the Play Off for promotion to Serie A. First and second (Venezia and Parma) are five behind, but they are 9 units ahead of the ninth placed (Cosenza), the first who would be left without promotion options.

2-1 in their debut against FeralpiSalò, 0-0 in the Lake Lario derby against Lecco and 0-1 last day in the difficult field of SüdTirol, in Alto Adige. Three games in seven days… and a more than positive note for Cesc in his development as a coach. He retired in June 2023, days later he was announced as coach of the reserve team and, after just a few months in charge of Primavera, he was unexpectedly promoted to the first team, in Serie B.

“I was also surprised when on Sunday, November 12, at 3:11 p.m., the owners called me to announce that starting the following Wednesday I would have to lead the Como first team. I am here to win and offer good football. I want a It’s kind of exciting,” he said in one of his first press conferences. From one day to the next he fights to return Como, a historic Lombard football team, to Serie A 21 years after its last campaign in the top category.

I’m here to win and offer good football. I want a like that excites

Cesc Fabregas

He arrived for 30 days, as he himself confirmed, but he is hoping to finish the season. And then we’ll see… “I have to help Como: this goal is stronger than my ambition at the moment,” he said in his first press conference, before making his debut against FeralpiSalò.

I have to help the Como: this goal is stronger than my ambition at the moment

Cesc Fabregas

A football without systems

Cesc Fábregas does not like to talk about drawings or systems. He doesn’t want his football to be tied to something pre-established . “In the end, the formation is not very important, what counts is the structure,” he usually says at a press conference when journalists from northern Italy try to find out who will play in each game.

In the end, training is not very important, what counts is the structure

“My football consists of looking for spaces at the right moments. The formation can even change three times in the same action. I believe in the intelligence of the player to find spaces. I know I am heavy, but there are many concepts: maybe someone needs more time to learn them,” he adds.

The formation can change even three times in the same action. I believe in the intelligence of the player to find spaces

Cesc Fabregas

It is not surprising, therefore, that he has played with three different systems in his first three games: three central defense, four at the back… it varies depending on the opponent. “The only thing I can say is that I won’t play,” he jokes at every press conference. He doesn’t give up one. He performs well. And he knows his players. Many of them were his former colleagues months ago. He now commands them for a promotion that would be historic.

“Obviously now they are my soldiers, they have to give me everything to show me their value,” analyzes Fábregas. “And they must know how to take advantage of possibilities: an opportunity taken can help. I try to be fair in my work: if you train well, the opportunity comes ,” he explains.

Obviously now they are my soldiers, they have to give me everything to show me their value

Analytical, demanding and with a message

Cesc, who has learned first-hand from the best coaches of the 21st century (Guardiola, Wenger, Conte, Hiddink, Sarri, Mourinho…), is tremendously demanding and analytical. “We lost 17 balls,” he indicated in the analysis of the duel against Lecco. Accurate. “They played higher, more aggressive… but the team is showing that it has understood the idea of ​​the game. With work everything will come,” he adds.

With work everything will come

Cesc Fabregas

In a team with other ‘myths’ like Cutrone or Simone Verdi, the one he likes the most is Oliver Abildgaard. “He always looks forward, I like it, he reminds me of what I was like as a footballer,” he confesses.

Fábregas, meanwhile, defends a clear message. Although he defines it in several different ways, it has the same substance: give everything and be united as a team. “My message is this: to win you have to run and defend together, those who come to Como must understand it,” he says first. And he adds later: “I want to create a mentality that will make us win more in the future. I don’t believe in winning by playing badly, but in the structure, in the line of thinking.”

My message is this: to win you have to run and defend together, those who come to Como should understand it

Cesc Fabregas

A Como with potential

The Como 1907 has potential. A lot. Because of its almost paradisiacal location and the multimillion-dollar portfolio of its owners. Yes, he hasn’t set foot in Serie A for 20 years and wandered around the fourth category not long ago… but he’s back. In 2019 it bought the Lombard entity SENT Entertainment Ltd, a company based in London but behind which are the Hartono brothers, from Indonesia and two of the richest people in Asia.

As it is close to Milan, just an hour away, and it is home to some of the most important celebrities in Italy. In addition to the summer residence of many international stars. On the shores of Lake Lario (or Como), the location is spectacular. Idyllic, almost. There is Villa Balbianello and the terrace where Padme and Anakin were married in Star Wars. And George Clooney, Donatella Versace, Madonna and Richard Branson have a home, to name a few.

Cesc? He wanted to join the club because of our ambitions, which include fixing up the stadium, opening a new sports center and reaching Serie A.

Dennis Wise, CEO of Como

And there an attempt is made to create a ‘galactic’ project led by Dennis Wise. The former Chelsea man is the CEO of the club. He was a key part in Cesc’s arrival. As well as Thierry Henry, former teammate and friend of Fábregas. They are both minority shareholders, too. “Cesc? He wanted to join the club because of our ambitions, among which are fixing the stadium, opening a new sports center and reaching Serie A,” said Wise in 2022. They have clear ideas… and Cesc is part fundamental of them.

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