Cesc Fabregas opened up about his early time in charge of Serie B side Como, his plans from the future and what he learnt from coaches like Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho.
The 36-year-old Spaniard hung up his boots at the end of last season, drawing his 20-year playing career to a close.
Fabregas immediately moved into management with the Serie B club, becoming their Under-19 Primavera coach, before being named coach of the first team in November after the dismissal of Moreno Longo.
The former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder has impressed across his first three games, picking up two wins and a draw.
Speaking on page 34 of today’s Gazzetta dello Sport, Fabregas first discussed how the transformation of Como is going.
“Good. We are changing our idea of the game and doing so while the season is underway is not easy.”
He was asked what he’s been looking to change since Longo’s dismissal.
“I don’t like defending one on one. When I was at Barcelona and a team faced us like this, they were dead. I remember Bilbao against Messi and Neymar, who scored two goals per game.
“In Serie B there is this tendency, there is less quality. We must be physically strong, intelligent and organised. Even in defence.”
The 36-year-old gave his thoughts on a four-man backline.
“I don’t like defending with five, and it’s better to keep the highest line for pressing. We don’t work for the man, but for the ball.”
Fabregas then discussed his plans for attacking moves.
“Three forwards, two and a trequartista. It depends, the quality of the players and the type of match count. I grew up in Barcelona with an idea of football and I don’t know any other. But I see it proposed here too by Spalletti, Sarri, Italiano, not to mention De Zerbi.”
He spoke about what he’s learnt from his various coaches.
“Wenger was a master for young players, Mourinho is for how he motivates players, Conte for the energy he transmits, Guardiola for tactics.
“However, they all have one thing in common: they want to win. I’ve never been in a locker room where a different message was conveyed.
“Only in Monaco, in France, I didn’t feel it. I have always played to win.”
He commented on his work to guide Como to Serie A.
“I work to bring Como to Serie A. A mentality that the team must have, but also the staff and everyone else.
“The important thing is to go there with the right structure as a club. This is why I am willing to commit myself for a long period, I like the project.”
Fabregas was asked why he didn’t wait to take over until the summer.
“The call came sooner than expected. The team wants to grow, and I am available. Six months ago, I was playing, I coached the Primavera for three months, I have been in the first team for 20 days. I have a lot to learn, even if I confess that I have clear ideas.”
The Spaniard noted that he would’ve been happy staying with the Primavera squad.
“I would have gladly continued with the Primavera to get used to the new job. Of course, then the plan was to coach Como, but I swear, I didn’t think so soon. Arteta helped me.
“He too followed a path like this. He told me: you can’t know you’re a good coach, but if you’re convinced of your ideas and have a lot of experience, it’s right to jump in. He motivated me.”
Fabregas touched on his plans for the future.
“I have 30 years of my coaching career ahead of me, I will always be ultra-competitive. If a training session goes badly, I don’t sleep, like when I played.
“This helped me get to a top level. Today I adapt to a team made up of others and I try to convey a winning mentality.”
He spoke about why teenagers usually break through in European clubs but not in Italy.
“Because in Italy the result matters too much. The coaches don’t trust you, they look for experience and physique, because if you lose, they send you away. Wenger was working for the future.”
He provided a solution to this issue.
“The second teams, I think Como will also do it. The leap from the Primavera to the first team is too high.”
Finally, Fabregas was asked if he feels different now.
“Now I understand many things, even the sacrifices of my father who worked 12 hours a day. Before I had the best life in the world, now everything is different. But I like it a lot.”