Como ended the match against Sassuolo with a clear 2-0, and coach Cesc Fàbregas expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, underlining how the half-time was decisive. "We changed something during the break. In the first half I underestimated Matic's quality, like last year when we lost. He has to be pressed throughout the match, we can't let him play freely," said Fàbregas, who then praised the group's reaction in the second half, highlighting the desire to win.
Fàbregas then spoke of a personal comparison with midfielder Matic, describing him as a "friend". “I told him: 'Sorry, but we had to pressure you otherwise you would play alone'. He replied: 'Remember that you played the best football with me',” said the coach. The episode was used to motivate the team to maintain constant intensity, avoiding falling into a “thousand” mentality that can lead to a lack of energy.
According to Fàbregas, the maturity of the team is a key factor. "You can't always go at full speed, but if we want to be competitive we have to find the energy. This is only achieved when the coach has faith in the whole squad, knowing that he can change often and give opportunities to everyone," he explained. The coach also underlined how Como's preparation was shorter than that of Sassuolo, who had eight days of work, while Como only had four. "It's a big difference this season. We have to get used to it," he added.
As for the next match, Como will face Torino on Tuesday, a team that played only 24 hours before them. Fàbregas reiterated the importance of not losing pace, highlighting that the team has already started to understand how to exploit the key moments of the season. Meanwhile, midfielder Douvikas has been cited as a strength that has been underrated. The coach said that the idea of change during the break was "very good" and that the team lost too many duels, but improved significantly after the break.
In summary, Fàbregas recognized the need for constant pressure on key players like Matic, praised the team's growth and prepared the fans for an upcoming match against Torino, highlighting the difference in preparation compared to rivals and the willingness to continue to evolve.