Serie A Insights: Como Boss Cesc Fabregas Explains Why The League Is Hard To Understand

Cesc Fabregas described Serie A as almost impossible to read, even after guiding Como to a fourth-place finish and a Champions League spot. The Como coach said the tactical chaos across the division made Italian football especially complex, despite Como earning the club’s first appearance in a major European competition in its history under Fabregas’ leadership.

Fabregas took permanent charge of Como in July 2024, less than two years after moving into management. The former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder said this early success in Serie A followed a playing career that included long spells in the Premier League, LaLiga, Ligue 1 and Italian football itself.

Explaining what he faces each week in Serie A, Fabregas said: "Here, a lot of teams think about how to eliminate you by pressing and defending, not by attacking," and "That means a team that wants to win needs to be ready to break down a defence that has been created to cause you pain, to kill you." Fabregas added, "This requires more attention to detail."

Fabregas stressed how Italian football differs from other major leagues when preparing Como for Serie A fixtures. "Let's put it this way. They want to bring you into the context of the duels." He added, "They know you're going to play. So you need to take them into positions where they're not comfortable, and try to attack their weaknesses."

Fabregas highlighted how scoring in Serie A demands careful planning, even for teams like Como. "Winning in Italy, believe me, people say there are a lot of 0-0s and 1-0s, it's difficult." Fabregas continued, "Trust me, I analyse a lot of football. I watch the Bundesliga, LaLiga and the Premier League. Teams defend very, very differently to how they defend in Italy."

According to the Como coach, defensive structures elsewhere look far more clear than in Serie A. Fabregas said, "You watch Premier League teams, you see a structure. You see what they're trying to do. You see the style they want to apply. Here, a lot of the times, it's impossible to understand what's happening. That's why you need to pay great attention to detail."

Recruitment at Como and Serie A squad building

Como’s rise in Serie A came with a squad mainly formed from foreign players, which drew criticism in some quarters for the lack of Italians. Fabregas responded by explaining his recruitment method at Como. "The first thing we look at is the person," he explained, stressing character checks before considering positional data or tactical fit.

Fabregas detailed how first conversations with possible Como signings for Serie A avoid technical discussions at the start. "In my first meeting with a player, I don't speak about football." Fabregas said, "I only speak about their personal life. I want to identify their mentality, explain who we are, how we do things, how we work. The players and the families are more important than anyone."

The Como coach said culture within a Serie A dressing room is shaped before tactics. Fabregas explained, "You mark some clear things about the culture of the team and the club, and then after that, we start talking football." Fabregas added, "I believe in them blindly and when a coach believes blindly in his playerslook, there are always things you cannot control."

Fabregas, Serie A coaching role and transfer control

Fabregas believes trust between the coach and the squad is vital for Como to compete in Serie A. He said, "But you will always get the best out of the player or do better than someone who brings them in because they have good data, but the coach doesn't trust or know the player." Fabregas argued that data alone cannot replace that direct relationship.

Questioning how some Serie A clubs manage transfers, Fabregas stated, "What I don't understand is sometimes clubs sign players without speaking to the coach, or without the coach studying and speaking to the player." Fabregas underlined where responsibility lies, adding, "It's the coach who needs to make these players play and make them better."

Fabregas’ comments show how Como’s Champions League qualification and Serie A consistency rely on tactical analysis and human detail. The coach views Italian football as tactically complex yet rewarding, and believes Como’s foreign-heavy squad, built around strong personal profiles and clear communication, can keep competing with established Serie A sides.