The Spanish coach says his team deserved more than a draw against Serie A’s most dominant side
Como manager Cesc Fàbregas walked away from the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinal with mixed emotions.
The 0–0 draw at the Stadio Sinigaglia leaves everything open ahead of the return leg in Milan, but the Spanish coach believes his side deserved even more against the Italian champions.
Facing Inter Milan — widely considered the most dominant team in Serie A over the past several seasons — Como delivered the disciplined performance their coach had prepared for.
“We played the match we wanted,” Fabregas told Italian television after the final whistle. “It was a very tactical game. Looking at the overall performance, we probably could have scored one goal.”
A Tactical Battle
The semifinal opener played out like a chess match, with both teams prioritizing organization and defensive structure.
Como stayed compact, limited Inter’s attacking rhythm, and created three clear opportunities of their own. For Fabregas, that balance made the performance even more impressive.
“Against the most dominant team in Serie A over the last four or five years, they managed just one shot,” he said. “That leaves you satisfied, even if there’s a bit of bitterness because a 1–0 win for us wouldn’t have been unfair.”
The result keeps the tie perfectly balanced ahead of the decisive second leg at San Siro.
“Revenge Is for Losers”
Despite the significance of the moment for a rapidly rising Como side, Fabregas rejected the idea that the match carried any sense of personal revenge.
“Revenge is for losers,” he said. “People who are intelligent and hungry to improve stay humble and open to hearing everyone’s opinion.”
Instead, the coach emphasized the team’s ongoing growth. Como’s focus remains on continuing to raise their competitive level rather than proving a point against bigger clubs.
“We want to keep pushing forward,” Fabregas explained. “There are 12 league games left — hopefully 13 if we reach the Coppa Italia final. Step by step we try to raise the bar and see how far we can go.”
For a club that was far from this stage of the competition just a couple of seasons ago, the semifinal itself represents a milestone.
A Different Mentality
Fabregas also acknowledged the obvious difference in status between the two clubs heading into the second leg.
“We are Como and they are Inter,” he said. “There is a different mentality between the teams and between the clubs.”
Still, he stressed that his players have already achieved something significant: earning the right to play a Coppa Italia semifinal that will be decided at San Siro.
“Two years ago nobody would have imagined this,” he said.
Support for Bastoni
Fabregas also took time to defend Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni, who was loudly booed by sections of the crowd during the match.
According to the Como coach, the criticism is a byproduct of Bastoni’s success with one of Italy’s strongest teams.
“When everyone raises their voice against someone, the criticism grows,” Fabregas said. “But for me he is a top player. I’ve studied Inter a lot in recent years and he’s an excellent footballer and a great guy.”
Fabregas acknowledged that the defender had previously made a mistake but emphasized that the situation should not be exaggerated.
“He apologized. These things happen — players are young and they can learn from them. We need to protect him. He will come out of this.”
With the semifinal still wide open, Como will now turn their attention back to league play before preparing for the decisive showdown in Milan.
