Fabregas: ‘Como historic in Champions League, like football university’ | OneFootball

Cesc Fabregas reveals how he told Como they could make it into the Champions League and why he is in no hurry to leave. ‘It’s like going to football university every day.’

The coach had already made history when taking this tiny club to Europe after earning promotion from Serie B two years ago, but he went one step further thanks to the total collapse of Milan at San Siro.

As they secured a 4-1 victory away to Cremonese, relegating their opponents, news came through that Como were in the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Fabregas so proud of Como history

CREMONA, ITALY – MAY 24: Cesc Fabregas coach of Como 1907 reacts during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Como 1907 at Stadio Giovanni Zini on May 24, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

“In my whole life, even when I make substitutions, I’ve just had feelings about things, and I had the feeling the day before we played Parma that with two victories, we’d be in the Champions League,” Fabregas told DAZN Italia.

“I showed the players a video of a cyclist who was in sixth place, but he started pushing on the pedals in the final sprint and he won the race. That is what we did in this season.

“We had some setbacks, two defeats and the draw with Udinese, so we knew that we needed a run of wins, but the sensation was always that we were in the race.”

Despite needing the other results to secure their qualification, Fabregas on the touchline never once asked to know what was happening at San Siro and the Stadio Bentegodi.

CREMONA, ITALY – MAY 24: Coaches Marco Giampaolo of US Cremonese and Cesc Fabregas of Como 1907 pose before the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Como 1907 at Stadio Giovanni Zini on May 24, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

He has won so much in his career as a player, but how does this rank in his highlights?

“Right up there, because of the way we did it. This is a squad full of kids, we’ve got 15 players who are all under 23, so it’s masterpiece from the whole team. They listened, always wanted to do more, raised the bar at the right time.

“I can only tip my hat to these players, because we coaches try to push them on, give options, tell them where the space is, but they are the ones who do it on the pitch. I am so happy for the people of Como, they deserve this joy.”

When Fabregas arrived at Como, they were still in Serie B, but he helped form the club from the ground up, designing the training camp.

“I always say that I had to make many decisions here, because I was practically given the keys to the football side of things, and there was practically nothing when we started.

“I was talking to two physios today who were with us four years ago when I came to play, we didn’t have a training ground, so we’d do massage on tables in the back room of a bar! Now, we are in the Champions League.

“It is my second year and a half as a coach, so thanks to the staff for the way they push and inspire me, understand me. I realise I’m tough to deal with at times, but this is my life, always trying to do more.

“I have grown so much in this experience. It has been like going to a football university every day, because I had to make so many decisions. The day I do leave here, I will become just a coach.”

CREMONA, ITALY – MAY 24: Como 1907 players celebrate after getting a Champions League slot for next season after the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Como 1907 at Stadio Giovanni Zini on May 24, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

Fabregas has been linked with so many big clubs over the last year, but he has even more reason to stay at Como now that they have booked their spot in the most prestigious competition in club football.

The same might also go for Nico Paz, even though Real Madrid will decide his future thanks to a buy-back clause.

“I am very happy here, so it’s true that timing is important, but I am very happy with what we are doing here,” assured the Spaniard.

“We always want more, don’t we? Life is long, I just turned 39 a couple of weeks ago, as Jose Mourinho said, there’s a long way to go until I reach 80, that’s 40 years of work.

“You mustn’t be in a hurry in your work, you’ve got to have patience and keep learning. When one day you feel ready, you might make the step up.

“In any case, Como have made the step up, because they are in the Champions League,” concluded Fabregas.