Why Como Should Be Your Next Stop as a Remarkable Journey Continues

Como manager Cesc Fabregas stood in the circle one last time to deliver a message to his players. Fabregas has made a habit of being surrounded by his young troops on the pitch following games, delivering words of wisdom and encouragement. This time, the message at the Stadio Giovanni Zini in Cremona was one full of praise after the 4-1 win, for his side had done it.

“I told you the day before Parma, we win the two games, we are in the Champions League. I don’t know why I told you, I had a feeling, I always get my responses by feeling,” he said.

“But guys, this is all up to you. It’s all thanks to every one of you. We try to help you, we try to give you certain solutions, but you are the reason that this is so beautiful. I thank you for all my life. All my life, because this would be probably the best group I will ever coach in my future.”

The Lariani had done it. They’d pulled off the unlikely feat of finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time, in only the club’s second season back in Serie A after a 21-year absence. They had finished ahead of traditional powerhouses Juventus and AC Milan to boot.

Celebrations in the city went wild. Games against some of Europe’s finest were now a reality and just around the corner. Several months later, Fabregas revealed he has no fear of the ‘new world’ the club is about to enter.

And what a world it is. Following the Champions League draw in Monaco, English Premier League giants Manchester United and European champions Paris Saint-Germain will visit the Stadio Sinigaglia, while Fabregas will take his players to Catalonia to face his former side Barcelona.

Not bad for a club that had never been in European competition before. And Fabregas is relishing the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with football’s heavyweights. Moreover, he remains committed to the style of play that got them this far.

“You play against the big boys, you need to play like a big boy,” he told TNT Sports. “You need to defend like a big boy, you need to attack like a big boy, you need to have the ball like a big boy.

“I only want the team to play with personality, with courage and not to feel small. If we lose, it’s because they are better than us. But not because we refuse to play the way we can, or (the way) we want to play.”

The club’s meteoric rise is well known at this stage: from Serie D to Serie A in the space of five years, from playing against the likes of Sondrio, Pro Sesto and Villafranca, to Juventus, Napoli and Inter Milan in half a decade, to now welcoming European royalty to the Sinigaglia. It’s been quite the journey.

The arrival of top-level European football does, however, bring its own challenges. Fabregas’ fledglings are now in the throes of three competitions.

There is no shortage of examples of clubs struggling to juggle the demands of domestic and European football down the years. It was something Napoli failed to master last season, exiting the Champions League in the 36-team group phase.

Como have bought well this summer, though. Trevoh Chalobah arrived from Chelsea with Champions League experience and in the prime of his career, while Italian starlet Mattia Liberali was signed from Catanzaro after his performances in Serie B last season caught the eye. After weeks of speculation, Italy international Moise Kean has arrived, giving Fabregas a new striker to spearhead his attack. 

However, perhaps the best piece of business done by the club was retaining €60million Argentine playmaker Nico Paz. The 21-year-old, who arrived from Real Madrid, was instrumental in the club breaking into the top four, scoring 12 times and producing seven assists. 

Como also retained all of last season’s key players, meaning they are well equipped to maintain their momentum and mix it up with the big boys in Serie A once more.

Fabregas is aware of the extra workload but isn’t fazed. “We are adding a few extra games in the Champions League, but Serie A and the Coppa Italia are the most important things,” he said recently. 

“The Champions League is an unexpected gift for a side that was in Serie B until two years ago. None of us have been in Europe, let alone the Champions League, so playing three times a week is a new experience. We need to keep seeking fresh motivation and energy.”

And it’s not just on the pitch where the club is impressing. With Champions League qualification secured, they had to make major adjustments in order to get the Sinigaglia ready to host Champions League football. The alternative, playing games in Reggio Emilia, wasn’t going to sit well with the local supporters. 

The club constructed the new Curva Como within three months, increasing overall capacity and meeting UEFA requirements. In a country where stadium redevelopment moves at a glacial pace, Como’s ability to construct a new stand in just 12 weeks garnered headlines for sheer efficiency.

The new Curva Como, the section of the ground containing the most vociferous fans, is part of an eventual bigger redevelopment of the Sinigaglia, one which aims to bring the club racing into the modern era.

Como have upset the status quo in Serie A’s upper echelons, and the aim is to continue to do so in the coming years. Has there ever been a better time to start planning a calcio trip to the lake?

The challenge now for Fabregas and the club is to maintain the momentum and qualify for the Champions League again.

Can it be done? No one thought they could do it last season, so why not? This is, after all, a club that doesn’t want to stand still. Fabregas wants to build foundations to ensure the club prospers for years.

How Como grapples with the demands of domestic and European football will be one of the themes of the season. Yet it is just one more reason to keep an eye on them. 

All the information about planning the perfect trip, including where to eat and drink, what to do and how to get tickets, can be found on our Como club page and city page.