Inside Como 1907: Fabregas’ Tactics, Transfer Window and Best Players

In the lead-up to their first Serie A home match in over 21 years, the entire Como region stands behind Cesc Fabregas and the Biancoblu. The stage is set as Como chase the first victory of the season following three consecutive away trips to Friuli, Piedmont, and Sardinia.

The club has worked conscientiously to transform the squad over the summer – perhaps the most aggressive transfer window of any newly promoted side in recent memory – beginning with the signatures of Andrea Dossena and Euro 2020 champion Andrea Belotti in June.

That set the tone for other high-profile arrivals looking for a fresh project to sink their studs into, plus a healthy sprinkle of future superstars. Indeed, Como have now become a sandpit for emerging talents from Real Madrid and Manchester City. Not forgetting the late addition of seven-time La Liga and two-time UEFA Champions League winner Sergi Roberto, who played alongside Fabregas at Barcelona and the Spanish national side.

“It’s an honour to have him [Fabregas] as coach; he was one of the best footballers in the world,” Roberto told the BBC.

“He has just started his career, and I am sure we’ll help each other in many ways,” continued the 32-year-old.

Roberto could start his first Serie A match on Saturday against Bologna who, after a top-five finish under Thiago Motta last season, Bologna have yet to win this term, drawing twice and losing once.

Undoubtedly, there is a lot on the line at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in what many are dubbing an early-season six-pointer. One positive result can garner momentum for Fabregas, who was accredited with his full coaching licence in July. The former Arsenal man relied on hard-running midfielders to generate goalscoring opportunities in Serie B, a quality new signings Nico Paz (Real Madrid) and Roberto bring to the lakeside city.

Until signing for Como, Roberto, who scored 19 times for the Blaugrana, had only ever worn one club shirt during his 11-year first-team career.

“I had offers from Spain, the Middle East, and others from Europe, as well as Serie A and Premier,” Roberto reassured. “But when I spoke to Fabregas for the first time, I understood how ambitious the club was.”

The Lariani have looked cohesive in their opening three fixtures, and one could argue they should have more than just one point on the board: match-winning chances were wasted in Cagliari – a game that should have yielded three points – and a stoppage-time penalty in Udine was missed.

Clinical finishing would have propelled Como into the top half of the Serie A table. But the season is young, and Roberto remains faithful. “The target is to stay in Serie A, but I appreciate that Cesc and the club think big. Having him as a coach impacted my decision, and, not less importantly, Como is one of the most beautiful places in the world.”

“He is a very demanding coach, he wants to dominate games, have possession, and play attacking football, as he used to do.”

A serious overhaul of that successful Serie B squad saw Alessandro Bellemo and Nikolas Ioannou loaned to Sampdoria, Adrian Semper and Oliver Abildgaard sent to Pisa, Cas Odenthal to Sassuolo, and Tommaso Cassandro to Catanzaro.

Transfers In:

Goalkeepers: Pep Reina (Villareal), Emil Audero (Sampdoria)

Defenders: Ignace Van Der Brempt (RB Salzburg), Marc Oliver Kempf (Hertha Berlin), Alberto Moreno (Villareal), Andrea Dossena (Cagliari), Raphael Varane (Manchester United).

Midfielders: Sergi Roberto (FC Barcelona), Luca Mazzitelli (Frosinone), Yannik Engelhardt (Dusseldorf), Nico Paz (Real Madrid), Maximo Perrone (Manchester City), Matthias Braunoder (signed permanently from Austria Vienna).

Attackers: Andrea Belotti (Roma), Alieu Fadera (Genk), Ali Jasim (Al Kahraba), Alberto Cerri (return from Empoli loan), Gabriel Strefezza (signed permanently from Lecce).

Best performers: Cutrone is the sole goalscorer to date, assisted by Dossena. Moreno is the only outfield player to have played every minute, with Strefezza and Da Cunha leading in progressive carries (7) and progressive passes (10), according to FBREF.

Tactics: Despite deploying his trademark 4-2-3-1 in the Coppa Italia, Fabregas has approached Serie A with a 4-4-2 formation, one which morphs into a 4-2-2-2 system depending on field position. Both strikers often operate as number tens that drop deep to discombobulate defensive lines.

Como XI (4-4-2): Reina – Iovine, Moreno, Dossena, Kempf – Strefezza, Mazzitelli, Perrone, Da Cunha – Cutrone, Belotti