“Once you have a look at our workforce, you shortly notice: Fàbregas didn’t simply make me higher, he made all of us higher and, to some extent, took us to a brand new degree,” Marc Oliver Kempf raved about his coach Cesc Fàbregas to ‘Sport1’ in March 2025, whereas he was within the course of of creating himself with Como in Serie A.
Kempf managed to boost that degree even additional inside a 12 months and, in April 2026, is firmly heading in the right direction for the Champions League. A return to Europe’s premier membership competitors as soon as once more had appeared nearly inconceivable for the 31-year-old just some years in the past.
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After Kempf had change into not more than a backup at VfB Stuttgart within the 2022/23 season, he determined to maneuver to Hertha BSC within the winter. Backed by main investor cash, the Previous Girl was alleged to change into a “Large Metropolis Membership.” The mission failed spectacularly. Kempf was relegated to the two. Bundesliga with Hertha in the summertime of 2023 and, at 28, was not even beneath contract at a membership in one among Europe’s prime 5 leagues. When every part already seemed like a downward spiral, Cesc Fàbregas noticed one thing very completely different in Kempf.
After profitable promotion to Serie A with Como in the summertime of 2024, the coach and former world-class participant wished to lure him to Lombardy.
📸 Maja Hitij – 2024 Getty Photographs
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“Shortly earlier than the top of the switch window in the summertime, my agent advised me that Como had been . Not lengthy after that, the coach known as me and we had a 10- to 15-minute dialog to get a really feel for one another. We talked concerning the sporting course, how he sees me, and the way I really feel,” Kempf advised ‘Sport1’. A number of days later, Como introduced the defender to Italy for €2.5 million.
Kempf impressed from the very starting and has since change into an everyday in Fàbregas’ aspect. Not like particularly throughout his time at VfB Stuttgart and Hertha, Kempf has managed to constantly ship robust performances on the foot of Lake Como and has additionally stood out particularly for his purpose risk.
Within the present marketing campaign, the defender has already scored 4 objectives in 27 league matches. The explanations for his resurgence additionally appear to lie within the setting at Como, as Kempf himself confirmed: “I couldn’t identify a single individual on the membership about whom I’d say: wow, that man is actually bizarre. That does you a number of good — it makes you’re feeling genuinely snug total.”
That apparently wasn’t all the time the case earlier than. As Kempf revealed, he repeatedly struggled with psychological points, particularly in Berlin. So after extraordinarily good spells from the fast, ball-playing defender, weaker intervals stored following. In Italy, since his transfer, it seems like issues have solely been going upward.
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Within the present season, the previous Hertha man is a part of the very best protection in Serie A. In 31 league matches, the Lombardy aspect have conceded simply 22 objectives — the very best file in Italy and, along with Arsenal, additionally amongst Europe’s prime 5 leagues. Thanks partially to that defensive wall, Como are unbeaten in eight matches and through that run have overwhelmed Juventus (3-1) and AS Roma (2-1), amongst others.
The place among the best defensive models in Europe belongs needs to be apparent.
📸 ISABELLA BONOTTO – AFP or licensors
That’s proper: within the Champions League. With seven matchdays left within the season, Kempf and Como sit in an automated qualification spot for Europe’s prime membership competitors. Fittingly, on Sunday, CL giants and league leaders Inter come to Lake Como. Maybe the right alternative for Kempf to attain his fifth purpose of the season?
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He already discovered the web in opposition to Milan this season. So a purpose in opposition to their metropolis rivals would solely be truthful.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.