Cesc Fabregas, the coach of Como, has lauded the club's swift progression, stating its growth has been at an "unprecedented pace." He drew comparisons between young talent Nico Paz and former Milan star Kaka, while also revealing the significant influences of managers Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte on his own career.
Fabregas, speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport's magazine, has guided Como from Serie B to Champions League qualification in just three years. While acknowledging the investment from the club's Indonesian owners, Fabregas emphasized that the speed of their development is remarkable, contrasting it with longer waits for major European clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal to achieve similar success.
"It’s true Como spent money, but the growth of the club has been at a frankly unprecedented pace," Fabregas stated. "Paris Saint-Germain spent hundreds of millions and waited 15 years before winning the Champions League, while Arsenal had to wait seven years to win the Premier League. I don’t look at the money spent, so much as getting the best out of the squad and individuals." He also noted that Como's salary bill is not among the highest in the league.
Regarding Nico Paz, whom Como recently acquired the remaining 50% of from Real Madrid with a buy-back clause, Fabregas sees immense potential. "Nico Paz has everything, physique and quality," he commented. "He has extraordinary courage, vision and ambition. He is 21 years old, but it feels like he’s been playing for a decade." Fabregas is focused on developing Paz as a person as well as a player to prepare him for top clubs.
While some have compared Paz to Kaka, Fabregas noted differences. "Kaka was a little more explosive. He had this surge forward that, like Andres Iniesta, was unstoppable," he explained. "Nico is a little more physical, more positional, more static, but he knows how to use his body in a different way to others. He’s got the goal in his mind, a great final pass, has started to understand the game a lot better. He is a talent."
Fabregas also named Inter captain Lautaro Martinez as the current "peak" of Serie A. Reflecting on his own playing days, he credited Mourinho for his psychological intelligence and Conte for his demanding, consistent approach to all players.
