Cesc Fabregas reveals what he instructed Como about his expertise forward of the penalty shoot-out towards Napoli to succeed in the Coppa Italia semi-final. ‘I’d been of their state of affairs.’
The Lariani will face Inter within the Coppa Italia semi-final, a stage of the event this membership had solely ever reached as soon as earlier than in 1986, when as soon as once more they eradicated the reigning Serie A title holders.
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It was Verona again then, however Napoli this time, needing a sudden dying penalty shoot-out
Martin Baturina had transformed the opening spot-kick earlier than half-time, whereas Antonio Vergara scored the equaliser straight after the restart.
Fabregas taking Como to new heights
NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 10: Martin Baturina of Como 1907 celebrates with teammates after scoring his staff’s first purpose through the Coppa Italia match between SSC Napoli and Como 1907 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 10, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Picture by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Photographs)
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“It’s an historic achievement, a optimistic time, however we have now one other essential sport arising on Saturday. We should depart the euphoria to the tip of the season,”
“Will probably be powerful to shake off the adrenaline, however we listened to music for 10 minutes within the locker room, now we’ll start making ready for the weekend, as we wish all three factors.”
There was a second of controversy on 50 minutes when Jacobo Ramon was very fortunate to not obtain a second yellow card for his foul on Rasmus Hojlund simply outdoors the field.
Seeing that his participant was lucky, Fabregas instantly moved to substitute the defender moments later.
NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 10: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli gestures through the Coppa Italia match between SSC Napoli and Como 1907 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 10, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Picture by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Photographs)
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“Clearly, he would get despatched off on the subsequent foul, he’s a 20-year-old who’s missing expertise, that is his first full season as knowledgeable. A benefit of being that younger is you don’t really feel the strain, however the detrimental is that you may be a bit too free and simple as properly.
“I needed to take him off, as a result of taking place to 10 males in a state of affairs like this is able to make all the pieces far harder.”
The decisive errors within the shoot-out had been Romelu Lukaku drilling extensive and Jean Butez parrying from Stanislav Lobotka, whereas Vanja Milinkovic-Savic saved from Maximo Perrone.
NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 10: Romelu Lukaku of SSC Napoli reacts after lacking a penalty within the penalty shootout through the Coppa Italia match between SSC Napoli and Como 1907 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 10, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Picture by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Photographs)
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“I assumed the primary half was good, however within the second much less so, and sadly it’s not the primary, second and even third time that has occurred. It means we have to enhance a couple of issues,” famous Fabregas.
“We had from the beginning despatched a optimistic sign, that we got here right here to play on the entrance foot and never simply wait and defend. We did do issues somewhat otherwise in defence in the present day, as a result of we didn’t press too excessive, as they’ve gamers with such high quality who can discover these areas and harm you.
“With the intention to compete in Serie A, you want a centre-forward of the extent of Hojlund and he’s so good. I perceive that Napoli had a variety of accidents, however we had suffered with fairly a couple of accidents too in January and February, however with a younger squad we all the time tried to take the initiative and play on the entrance foot.
“We moved to 5 on the again for a couple of minutes, as don’t neglect we’re Como, and we’re a small membership on this competitors, so in that state of affairs we most well-liked to lock it down.”
NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 10: Jean Butez of Como 1907 celebrates along with his teammates after making the decisive save within the penalty shootout through the Coppa Italia Quarter Finals match between SSC Napoli and Como 1907 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 10, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Picture by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Photographs)
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In his speech to the staff earlier than the penalties, Fabregas instructed the Como gamers to ‘take pleasure in’ themselves, which is kind of an ask in that tense ambiance.
“I thanked them for giving me this expertise as a coach, as an individual, as a result of lots of them had by no means been via an expertise like this, so it was basic they’d perception, but additionally wanted to take pleasure in this second.
“I instructed them, I’d been in Napoli’s state of affairs of being the ‘large’ staff anticipated to win and that it provides a little bit of worry. We had been additionally fortunate to be first within the draw, as that helps. I thanked the gamers for all they do, as eradicating a couple of older lads like Moreno, Morata and Alberto, the common age is 22.
“We have to preserve humility and hold working, as a result of we’ve obtained three in a row now.”
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The semi-final is the one stage of the Coppa Italia that’s performed over two legs, so with house and away fixtures, though it’s not an extended journey on this Lombardy Derby.
The opposite semi-final is between Atalanta and both Bologna or Lazio.