Fabregas: Como’s football project convinced me to join a club I barely knew existed

Cesc Fabregas says he did not even know Como had a football club before joining the Italian side as a player.

Speaking at the Trento Sports Festival, the Como head coach explained that his decision to move to the club was strongly influenced by his personal connection with the city, which he had often visited with his family.

“I used to go to Como a lot with my family and I did not know there was a football team,” Fabregas said.

“After my contract with Monaco ended, Como spoke to me and explained the project. I made my decision from the heart because my wife and I had visited the city many times before.”

Fabregas has since helped Como achieve a rapid rise. The club secured promotion to the Italian top flight, stayed in Serie A and then qualified for the Champions League for the first time in its history.

Como had never previously played in a European competition. They won their opening match in the tournament 4-1 against Leipzig.

The club are currently eighth in the Serie A table with 10 points, level with Juventus and Frosinone.

Fabregas believes the club’s growing profile is evidence that Como’s strategy is working, with interest from high-profile visitors increasing.

“Celebrities now ask for tickets to watch the matches from the stadium, and that means we are going in the right direction,” he said.

He added that Como’s president had initially focused heavily on tourism and marketing, making an attractive style of football an important part of the wider plan for the city.

“The president was concentrating on tourism and marketing. To have more tourism, it was necessary to offer attacking football, because the more beautiful it is, the more people want to watch it,” said Fabregas.

The Spaniard also highlighted the qualities he believes helped Lucas Da Cunha earn recognition with the France national team.

“Lucas Da Cunha joining the France national team is down to his mentality and his unbelievable desire,” Fabregas said.

“I used to say that I wanted players who had the desire and hunger to join Real Madrid and Barcelona.”

Fabregas said he preferred players who were still determined to establish themselves, rather than those whose careers were already made.

“I would rather have a player with less talent but with the desire and hunger to build an incredible career than a player who has already made his career and earned enough money,” he added.