Cesc Fabregas admits Como ‘started running before we could walk’ and have a limited Champions League squad against Manchester United, while pushing Martin Baturina to keep growing.
It kicks off at the Stadio Sinigaglia at 17.45 UK time (18.45 CEST).
The Lariani won their first ever Champions League match here against RB Leipzig with a 4-1 triumph, then fell 3-2 away to Feyenoord.
Now they make history again by hosting former Treble winners Manchester United on a prestigious occasion for the club that was in Serie B in 2024.
Both teams are struggling with injuries going into this match, as Como have lost Jesus Rodriguez for a couple of months, joining Moise Kean, Assane Diao and Trevoh Chalobah on the treatment table.
Lucas Da Cunha appears to be moved into a more advanced role, either as a trequartista behind the striker or more likely on the right wing where he played earlier in his career.
Fabregas leading Como into new era
“It is a move because we’re only 15-16 players, we knew that we got here quickly and don’t yet have an academy that can help us bolster the UEFA squad list with those requirements, we don’t have wingers available,” explained Fabregas on Sky Sport Italia.
“Mattia Liberali played 90 minutes the other day and was fatigued, so we need to preserve him for the other matches too. We’ve decided to go this way for today.
“It is a big match, we need players able to control the game, both with and without the ball.”
Martin Baturina too has struggled with fitness issues so far this season, but in the Sky Sport Italia studio, Croatian legend Zvonimir Boban revealed that Baturina chose Como in order to work with Fabregas.
“Baturina continues to grow, he has an incredible talent, and I told him to his face what he needs to do in order to keep improving,” noted the coach.
“I said if I am not on my sofa in three to five years seeing you playing for a top club in the Champions League and doing huge things, then we did something wrong, either me as a coach or you as a player.
“We’ve got to be honest and say to his face where he needs to improve, because in modern football it’s not all about quality and technique on the ball, you need to work hard, to sprint, press like animals. That has always been our strength and if we don’t do that, we will struggle against these big clubs with their remarkable quality.
“We believe so much in Martin, he is an important player for us, and we want to see him at 100 per cent today.”
Manchester United made the trip without suspended Leny Yoro suspended, injured Benjamin Sesko, Marcus Rashford, Patrick Dorgu, Kobbie Mainoo, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Ayden Heaven and Manuel Ugarte.
However, former Roma and Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt receives his first start since November 2025.
“It all moved so quickly, sometimes we started running before we could walk, and that is to the credit of the club and all the staff,” concluded Fabregas.
“We’ve got to adapt to the situation, we are proud to play these games, we want to build a reality here, to create champions rather than buy them, youngsters with hunger that want to grow.
“That will allow us to be more stable in the future. It is a growth process for all of us and we’ve got to work hard.”