Cesc Fabregas: Como’s 4-1 win over Manchester United ‘a special feeling’

Cesc Fabregas said Como’s 4-1 victory over Manchester United in the Champions League gave him “a special feeling”, regardless of the English club’s current difficulties.

Como produced an impressive display at home, with Argentina forward Nico Paz scoring twice and setting up another goal as Fabregas’ side secured a convincing victory.

“It is a special night, but we are still at the beginning of the journey towards everything we want to achieve,” Fabregas told Sky Sport Italia after the match.

The Como manager praised his players’ performance but warned them not to allow the result to distract them from their immediate responsibilities.

“The team played a good game this evening, but we must remain realistic and not celebrate too much because we have another match on Saturday,” he said.

Fabregas also used the occasion to dedicate the victory to a member of Como’s kit staff.

“I want to dedicate this win to one of the members of the kit staff. He knows why,” he added.

The result prompted questions about whether Como could impose their style against a range of opponents in European football. Fabregas rejected the suggestion that his team had already proven that point.

“I don’t know. That is a bold statement, and we must keep our humility,” he said.

“We will always prepare for the matches and try to play our football, whether it is against Inter in the Coppa Italia semi-final, or Napoli and Roma in Serie A.”

Fabregas insisted Manchester United’s current form did not reduce the importance of Como’s achievement, while highlighting the relative inexperience of some of his own players in the competition.

“We faced them this evening, and it does not matter if they are struggling at the moment,” he said.

“We must not forget that some of our players were playing only their third Champions League match of their careers.”

Fabregas joined Como as a player when the club were competing in the second tier of Italian football. He later moved into coaching with the youth team before making a quick transition to the first-team job.

The former Spain international also reflected on his time working under Pep Guardiola and recalled enjoying a more advanced role on the pitch.

“When Pep Guardiola played me as a striker, I liked it a lot,” Fabregas said.

“Lionel Messi and I had the freedom to explore the spaces and move into them.”