I Begged My Players To Stop Punishing Man Utd Como Boss Fabregas Reveals

I Begged My Players to Stop Punishing Man Utd Como Boss Fabregas Reveals Como manager Cesc Fabregas has revealed that he instructed his players to ease off Manchester United after building a four-goal lead in their UEFA Champions League encounter, but later regretted the decision when the English side scored a late consolation goal. Como defeated Manchester United 4-1 on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, in a result that left the visitors struggling to recover from a commanding display by the Italian side. Fabregas said he asked his players to slow the tempo and conserve their energy with another Serie A fixture against Sassuolo scheduled for Saturday. “I regret the last ten minutes because I was the one who asked the team to slow down the tempo because there is another match, and when the score was 4-0 we could have controlled things a little,” the Spanish tactician said. He admitted that he had instructed his players to stop making forward runs and remain in midfield rather than continue pressing their opponents relentlessly. “I asked the players to stop running and to stay in midfield, and this is what I regret because I was the first to urge them to fight until the end,” he added. Como took an early lead through Nico Paz, who scored within the opening minutes before adding a second goal later in the match. Anastasios Douvikas extended the advantage, while Jacobo Ramon made it 4-0, leaving Manchester United facing a heavy defeat. Substitute Joshua Zirkzee scored a late goal for United, reducing the deficit to 4-1. Fabregas said the late strike frustrated him because his team had lowered its intensity after establishing a comfortable advantage. “Their goal hurt me because we dropped in our enthusiasm and dropped in our defending, but the mistake was mine,” he said. Despite his regret over the closing stages, the former Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder praised his players for carrying out his tactical instructions and maintaining their aggressive pressing for most of the encounter.

He said the victory was important not only because of the scoreline but also because it demonstrated the playing identity he was trying to establish at Como. “We are trying to create a culture at the club, a style of play and an identity. Tonight was another convincing moment for us,” he said. Fabregas also acknowledged the significance of defeating a club with Manchester United’s history, describing the result as a source of pride for Como and its supporters. He encouraged young players to enjoy football, compete with determination and make the most of their careers. The result represented a memorable night for Como, while Manchester United were left to reflect on a disappointing performance ahead of their next domestic fixture.