logo

Cesc Fabregas Calls for Composure After Como's Stunning 4-1 Victory Over Manchester United in Champions League

Cesc Fabregas, head coach of Como, stressed the need for his team to stay grounded after their impressive 4-1 triumph against Manchester United in the Champions League on Wednesday night. The Spanish manager witnessed his Serie A side dominate at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, putting heavy pressure on visiting boss Michael Carrick.

Historic Night for Como

Fabregas warned against overconfidence despite the resounding victory over the English giants. With a previous 4-1 win against RB Leipzig in Matchday 1, Como became the first Italian club to score at least four goals in their first two home matches of a debut UEFA campaign. They also joined AC Milan as only the second Italian team to beat Manchester United by three or more goals in European competition.

Early Pressure and Clinical Finishing

After Diogo Dalot missed an early chance within 90 seconds, Argentine forward Nico Paz took advantage just two minutes into the game, cutting onto his left foot and curling a shot past goalkeeper Senne Lammens. At 22 years and 43 days old, Paz became the second-youngest South American to score against Manchester United in the Champions League, behind only Lionel Messi, who did so in the 2009 final.

Michael Carrick responded by substituting expensive signings Matheus Cunha and Andrey Santos for Carlos Baleba and Amad Diallo at halftime, but this failed to stop Como’s dominance. Paz assisted Tasos Douvikas for the second goal after a defensive slip by Matthijs de Ligt and later intercepted a pass from Baleba to score the third in the 57th minute.

Fabregas Reflects on the Victory

"I'm very happy. It's a historic night for the club, and we are very pleased. The team competed and played well. We must keep pushing forward," said Fabregas in a post-match interview with UEFA.

He added that his pre-match talk focused on bravery and fearlessness, which he saw fully displayed by his injury-hit squad. "We talked about our principles and who we are. The players showed great character and quality. We always emphasize character, but today they also performed with high skill."

Como Keeps European Hype in Check

Home goalkeeper Jean Butez denied Diallo before substitute Kaiki Bruno delivered a cross that found Jacobo Ramon unmarked for a header in the 76th minute, making it 4-0. Lammens later prevented Paz from completing a hat-trick. Late in stoppage time, Joshua Zirkzee, who replaced captain Bruno Fernandes, scored a consolation goal for United from Diallo’s cross.

Fabregas downplayed talk of other European clubs fearing Como. "I wouldn’t say other teams are afraid of us. We respect all clubs. We’re new to this competition, so we must stay grounded, keep working hard, and see where this journey takes us."

Mounting Pressure at Old Trafford

Manchester United struggled in Italy without nine injured players, extending their winless run to seven matches. The positive result from a draw against rivals Leeds United was quickly forgotten after this defeat. After the final whistle, Carrick apologized repeatedly to the traveling fans, echoing a similar gesture by former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following a heavy loss in November 2021 that led to his dismissal.

Match Highlights

  • Nico Paz: Scored twice, second youngest South American to net vs United in UCL.
  • Tasos Douvikas: Scored after de Ligt’s mistake.
  • Jacobo Ramon: Headed home fourth goal from Kaiki Bruno's assist.
  • Joshua Zirkzee: Scored late consolation for United.

Upcoming Fixtures

  • Ipswich Town vs Nottingham Forest - 23 Oct 2026, 22:00
  • Aston Villa vs Manchester City - 24 Oct 2026, 14:30
  • Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur - 24 Oct 2026, 19:30
  • Liverpool vs Brighton & Hove Albion - 25 Oct 2026, 16:00
  • Hull City vs Brentford - 25 Oct 2026, 16:00
  • Manchester United vs AFC Bournemouth - 25 Oct 2026, 16:00
  • Crystal Palace vs Newcastle United - 25 Oct 2026, 16:00
  • Sunderland vs Leeds United - 25 Oct 2026, 18:30

Related Articles