Cesc Fabregas, the former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder now managing Como in Serie A, has opened up about his early experiences as a coach and the managers who inspire him. In an exclusive interview with SportMediaset, Fabregas reflected on his coaching journey and shared his thoughts on the current Serie A title race.
“I’m at the beginning of my coaching career. I feel good, but I still have a lot to learn,” Fabregas admitted. When asked about his coaching influences, he highlighted two current Serie A managers: “If I had to draw inspiration from colleagues, I’m impressed by Inzaghi, who with his 3-5-2 manages to create an incredible anarchy, making it feasible with great work. On the other hand, I can’t help but mention Thiago Motta, who with his structure is giving a modern approach to Italian football, thanks also to the involvement of the center-backs.”
Turning his attention to the Serie A title race, Fabregas offered his perspective: “We’re still at the beginning, but I think the strongest team is still Inter, also because, match after match, you could see that it would be quite simple to win the title. Obviously, Napoli with Antonio Conte will also be up there; he knows how to win a Scudetto and a Premier League. For the others, we’ll see.”
Fabregas also spoke about the young talents at Como, including Nico Paz and Máximo Perrone. “What struck me was the willingness of the players who have a great hunger to improve, even though I always have the feeling that we can always do more,” he emphasized. “I know everyone talks about Nico, Perrone, and Sergi Roberto; many of them are young players who bring passion to the field and fight for a place in the team. Particularly with Nico, I thought he would need two or three months to adapt to the team and Italian culture, but from the first days, it was clear he was prepared.”
In a lighthearted moment, Fabregas revealed a potential reward for his players if they achieve their goal of staying in Serie A: “If last year they had five days of vacation in Ibiza (for promotion), this year I could pay for ten days of vacation if we stay in Serie A.”
