Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, one of Como’s minority shareholders, praises Cesc Fabregas not just as a coach, but also for signing ‘players that not a lot of people knew.’
Como beat Manchester United 4-1 in the Champions League Round 3 on Wednesday.
Nico Paz made headlines with two goals and one assist, but Como’s collective performance was impressive and dominant from the very beginning.
The Argentine netted the opening goal after just two minutes, assisted Anastasios Douvikas in the second half, then scored his second of the night.
Henry, an Arsenal and France national team legend, particularly enjoyed Como’s victory, being one of the club’s minority shareholders.
“To see players like Jacobo Ramon, Yan Couto. People will talk about Nico Paz, or about Da Cunha because he plays for the French national team. But to be able to go and get players that not a lot of people knew, to make a team out of it. Look at where they are, where we are,” he said during the CBS Champions League Show.
“You can watch that every game in Italy. Cesc wants to dominate, put pressure. There’s a clear idea on and off the ball. This doesn’t mean you’ll win every single game, but when you watch the team, you know what they are about. They don’t panic.”
Como finished fourth in Serie A last season, reaching Champions League qualification for the first time in their history.
With six points from three Champions League matches so far this season, they are the better-placed Italian team in the league phase.
“That’s what happened, and you arrive now beating Man United 4-1. Which doesn’t mean anything apart from the fact that you beat Man United 4-1, and that is also the biggest result in the history of the club. One of the best nights ever. You want more nights like that,” Henry continued.
The Frenchman continued to highlight Fabregas’ influence in shaping the Como project. Henry is also a former Arsenal teammate of Fabregas. The duo played 100 games together for the Gunners.
“How Cesc managed to put that team together. Now you’ll tell me Da Cunha is good,” Henry concluded.
“You’ll tell me Nico Paz is good. Or Jacobo Ramon. But nobody told me that two years ago or three years ago, when they were in Serie B. That’s all down to Cesc and what’s happening there with the community that embraces Cesc and the new ownership.”