Como head coach, Cesc Fàbregas, has expressed disappointment over Dele Alli’s red card during their 2-1 defeat to AC Milan on Saturday.
The English midfielder of Nigerian descent, who made his professional return after 748 days, was sent off just nine minutes into his debut for a reckless challenge on Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Fàbregas criticized the incident and mphasized that such errors are unacceptable, especially from seasoned players, and highlighted that the team was left with ten men during a crucial phase of the match.
Despite the setback, Fàbregas acknowledged the team’s strong performance, particularly in the first half, and their determination against a formidable opponent like Milan.
He aims to build on these positives as Como prepares for their next fixture against Empoli.
“It was at that moment when Milan went 2-1 up and Sergi Roberto was meant to come on, but I’d prefer to give him another two weeks to train so he can be ready to start against Empoli,” said Cesc.
“Dele Alli is a player who can score goals, he perhaps didn’t deserve this opportunity because he has only been working with us for two weeks and has a lot to improve.
“It is a grave mistake, one that we should not see from a player of his experience. It was a clear red card, there’s nothing to be said about that, he left the team down to 10 men during a crucial moment when we were pushing for 2-2.
“That is the most negative thing about this evening, but we keep going.”
Alli’s return to football has been highly anticipated, especially after his recent revelations about personal struggles and past trauma.
After conceding the first goal, AC Milan managed to turn the game around with Pulisic and Reijnders finding the net.
This victory keeps Milan in the hunt for European competition spots, while Como continues to battle for safety in the league.
