Cesc Fabregas has admitted he made a late tactical decision he now regrets after Como delivered a stunning 4-1 victory over Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
The Como head coach watched his side dismantle Michael Carrick’s struggling United at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, with Nico Paz producing a standout performance to lead the Italian outfit to an emphatic victory.
Paz struck twice, while Tasos Douvikas and Jacobo Ramon also found the net as Como underlined their growing confidence against one of European football’s most decorated clubs.
However, the celebrations were not entirely satisfying for Fabregas. Joshua Zirkzee’s stoppage-time goal for United left the Spaniard frustrated, particularly because he had instructed his players to reduce their intensity as the match approached its conclusion.
With a Serie A meeting against Sassuolo scheduled for Saturday, Fabregas admitted he had begun thinking about managing his players’ workload rather than pushing for more goals. That decision allowed United to snatch a consolation that took some of the shine off an otherwise commanding performance.
“I believe that tactically speaking the team played a rather good game,” the former Arsenal and Chelsea star said.
Fabregas was pleased with how his players executed the game plan but pointed to the closing stages as the one part of the performance he would approach differently.
“I regret maybe the last 10 minutes when I was the one telling the team to slow down the pace because there was another game and maybe with a 4-0 lead they could have managed something.”
The Como manager explained that his decision was influenced by the demanding schedule ahead, with the team needing to preserve energy for another important domestic fixture. With a three-goal cushion still intact at the time, he believed his side could manage the final minutes without taking unnecessary risks.
But United’s late breakthrough changed the mood. For a coach who prides himself on demanding intensity until the final whistle, the concession was a reminder that easing off can carry consequences, even when the result appears secure.
Fabregas also singled out Douvikas, revealing that he had specifically instructed the forward to stop making aggressive runs and remain in a central position as Como looked to see out the contest.
“I told Tasos Douvikas not to run anymore, to stay in the middle and maybe that is what I regret, because I’m the first one who always pushes the fight until the end. That goal hurt me.”
Despite the late frustration, Como’s victory represented a significant statement. Paz’s two-goal contribution, supported by strikes from Douvikas and Ramon, exposed United’s defensive problems and intensified scrutiny on Carrick following another damaging European night.
For Fabregas, the result demonstrated how far his side have progressed, but the late concession offered a lesson in maintaining concentration regardless of the scoreline. Como had delivered the dominant performance their supporters wanted; the only blemish was a final goal that their manager believes could have been avoided.
With Sassuolo next on the schedule, Fabregas must now turn his attention to recovery and preparation. His regret over Zirkzee’s goal will not erase Como’s impressive triumph, but it could reinforce a message he clearly values: keep competing until the final whistle.
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