Cesc Fàbregas Regrets Telling Como to Slow Down

Cesc Fàbregas Regrets Telling Como to Slow Down at 4-0

Cesc Fàbregas has admitted he regrets instructing his Como players to slow down after taking a commanding 4–0 lead against Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League.

Como secured an impressive 4–1 victory on October 21, 2026, but their manager was unhappy with the way his team managed the closing stages of the match. Rather than blaming his players for conceding late, Fàbregas accepted responsibility for the tactical decision that allowed Manchester United to find a consolation goal.

“I regret the last ten minutes because I was the one who told the team to slow down the tempo because there's another match and at 4-0 we could manage things a little,” Fàbregas explained.

He admitted that his instructions went against his usual philosophy of encouraging players to compete until the final whistle.

“I told the players to stop running and stay in the middle and that is something I regret because I'm the first to always push them to fight until the end,” he added.

The Como boss was particularly disappointed by the defensive drop-off that followed his decision.

“Their goal hurt me because we dropped our intensity and dropped our defensive block, but it was my fault,” Fàbregas said.

The late goal came through substitute Joshua Zirkzee, who scored Manchester United's only goal after Como had built a four-goal advantage. Despite the concession, the Italian side had already done enough to secure a memorable result.

Nico Paz was central to Como's outstanding performance, scoring twice and contributing an assist. Tasos Douvikas and Jacobo Ramón also found the net as Fàbregas' team took advantage of Manchester United's defensive problems.

The victory highlighted Como's confidence, attacking movement and ability to trouble a major European opponent. However, Fàbregas' post-match comments showed that he expects his players to maintain their concentration even when the result appears beyond doubt.

His willingness to accept responsibility also sent a clear message: the players should not carry the blame when they are following instructions from the technical area.

For Como, the result represents an encouraging step in their Champions League campaign. Yet Fàbregas will want his team to learn from the final minutes, ensuring that future performances combine attacking ambition with defensive discipline.

The Spanish coach has made clear that his preferred approach is to keep fighting until the end. After this experience, he may think twice before asking his players to take their foot off the gas, even when they are comfortably ahead.

Source: Fàbregas' post-match comments following Como's 4–1 Champions League victory over Manchester United, reported by VnExpress and Football Italia.