The Como coach spoke to the Gazzetta dello Sport after the historic 9-1 Champions League victory: “In Milan, we want to show our true identity”

Following Como’s historic 9-1 victory over Lens, Cesc Fàbregas has already turned his attention to Sunday’s trip to face Inter.

In an interview conducted in Lens by Fabiana Della Valle for La Gazzetta dello Sport, the coach acknowledged the importance of an extraordinary night for the club while urging the squad to remain grounded.

“I have already told the players that we must put Lens behind us and focus only on Inter.”

Como will have little time to recover from their European fixture. According to Fàbregas, the match at San Siro will demand a major physical and mental effort. However, the difficulty of the occasion must not lead the Lariani to abandon the principles that have driven their development.

“The objective is to go to Milan and show our true identity.”

Lens, a Historic but Imperfect Night

Fàbregas admitted that he had not expected such a commanding victory. The coach praised the attitude of the group and the team’s commitment to the game plan, while also identifying moments of inattention at the beginning of the second half.

The victory in Lens was Como’s third success in their opening four Champions League matches. Their only defeat came away to Feyenoord, in a game where, according to Fàbregas, the team lacked precision and composure in front of goal rather than aggression or the right attitude.

Major tests against Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona still await Como. Those fixtures will be played later in the competition, and Fàbregas hopes to have more players available by then, particularly in attack.

Nico Paz’s Dedication and Papaccioli’s Special Night

During the interview, Fàbregas also discussed Nico Paz’s decision to dedicate his goal to Jesus de Miguel and the Tenerife community. The Como coach said that he respected the decision, stressing the importance of unity during particularly difficult moments.

Fàbregas also spoke about the significance of Papaccioli’s goal. The Academy player had been sidelined for around nine months after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

After completing a long recovery, Papaccioli made his Champions League debut and scored Como’s ninth goal of the night. It was a memorable reward for a young player who had worked his way back from a serious injury.

From the Champions League to San Siro

The night in Lens will remain part of Como’s history, but the team must now turn the page. Facing Inter will require energy, concentration and the ability to adapt to a very different type of match.

Fàbregas wants Como to face one of Italian football’s strongest sides without losing their identity. The challenge at San Siro will therefore provide another important test of the team’s growth, especially after the physical and mental demands of the Champions League fixture.

The complete interview can be found on page 12 of the November 6 edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport. It is also available in the newspaper’s online edition.