Como manager Cesc Fabregas is relishing the chance to take on Manchester United in the Champions League and has given an insight into how he is motivating his players to secure a famous win.
It has been an incredible rise to this position for the Italian side as the promotion from Serie B in 2024 saw them compete in the top flight for the first time in 21 years.
Last season Como finished fourth in Serie A to book their place in the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Fabregas’ team got off to a dream start in the competition as they hammered RB Leipzig 4-1 in their opening game, but that was followed by a 3-2 loss at Feyenoord in the next round of games.
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Now they have a glamorous meeting with Manchester United at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Wednesday night and the 39-year-old boss cannot wait.
The former Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder suggests the Red Devils may have better players than Como, but they don’t necessarily have superior ‘inner strength and mentality’.
‘It’s a great match against one of the best and biggest teams in history,’ said Fabregas. ‘It’s a match to dream about, but we must try to do our best to try to win and pick up the three points.
‘We slowly have to understand what it’s like to face the top sides, when you know that they’re better than you, but you still have to compete with what you have.
‘Our inner strength and our mentality are what must make us strong and allow us to believe that we can do it.’
Fabregas also revealed something of his own mindset when it comes to management in general, saying: ‘I’ve been very lucky to have worked with the best coaches in history. Whatever wasn’t so positive, you then take it to form your own ideas.
‘At the end of the day, you must be yourself too… And I always ask myself the same question: “How do I want to lose?” That’s vital for me.
‘I want to go home after a loss knowing that we did what we wanted to do. I don’t want to go home after a loss thinking that we weren’t ourselves.’
Como have had a solid start to the season, with four wins and just one loss in their first seven Serie A outings.
Wednesday’s game in Lombardy is in the early kick-off slot at 5.45pm.