Como's digital-age romance story

Instead of an embarrassing Milan or a timid Juventus at the key moment, the fourth Serie A representative in next year's Champions League will be Como.

Sharing his thoughts after Como defeated Cremonese 4-1 to secure a top-four finish in Serie A and earn their first-ever Champions League berth, young manager Cesc Fabregas stated: "I told the players before the game against Parma that with two victories, we would reach the Champions League. I showed them a video of a cyclist climbing from sixth place to the lead and urged them to emulate him. In the end, we achieved it." "This is a fantastic accomplishment for our young squad, many of whom are under 23. When I arrived four years ago, the club lacked a training facility — we had to change in a bar. Now, we're heading to the Champions League. I'm overjoyed by this success," Fabregas continued.

These straightforward remarks reveal the formula behind creating a team worthy of being an example to everyone worldwide, not only in football or sports. Having been with Como from Serie B to the Champions League, transitioning from player to head coach, Fabregas is not just a leader entrusted with full authority by the board, but also a brother and a kindred spirit to the largely unknown players of Como.

At an Italian club where English is the primary language due to a squad almost entirely devoid of Italians, Fabregas imbues his students with a fearless attacking football philosophy, trusting the ambition of players eager to showcase their abilities and driving them to continually exceed their limits. There was a period when Como suffered a sharp decline under the weight of expectations and media scrutiny after breaking into the top four in March 2026, but they recovered and triumphed at the crucial moment.

In an age where football has become "digitized," with cold statistical data widely used to formulate winning strategies, examples like the "cyclist" story told by Fabregas demonstrate that simple yet effective traditional methods still hold significant value. It's worth noting that Como is among Europe's wealthiest clubs when considering the assets of its owners, yet the team doesn't splurge indiscriminately on top stars who might adopt an arrogant attitude or feel entitled to superiority. Even Fabregas's assertion that Como avoids signing Italian players because they are either too expensive or lack sufficient quality serves as an implicit acknowledgment and encouragement to the squad's current members, most of whom had never been to Italy before.

Como's qualification for the Champions League is no fairy tale, as what Fabregas and his team accomplished was not the product of magic. It stems from a journey of relentless effort and improvement, a project where every detail has been meticulously planned with humility, continuous learning, and daily growth.