Maradona's night goes down in Como's history books, but Cesc Fabregas keeps euphoria from overtaking him. After qualifying for the Coppa Italia semifinals on penalties against Napoli, the Spanish coach celebrates the feat while immediately turning his attention to the immediate objectives. "This is a historic achievement for Como and a very exciting moment," he declared, without losing sight of the schedule. "Now we have a very important match ahead of us on Saturday. It will be hard for the lads to shed the adrenaline, but we must keep the euphoria going for the end of the season. We still have to work hard."
Fabregas analyzed the match with clarity, acknowledging his team's strengths and limitations. "We played quite well in the first half. In the second, however, there were several areas we could improve on," he explained, emphasizing how the strategy was also tailored to the quality of the opponent. "We didn't come here just to defend, though, even though we played a slightly different game. We didn't press high up the pitch like we usually do, because these great teams can get through you."
In addition to tactical composure, the emotional management of the long penalty shootout was crucial. "I thanked the lads first for letting me experience this evening. We're a young team, and I told them to believe in ourselves and enjoy these minutes," the coach said. A notable detail, according to Fabregas, was the order of the shots: "We were fortunate to kick first, and that always helps."
Among the key incidents was the close call with Ramon, who was close to being sent off. "I was worried about a second yellow. He's a twenty-year-old player who's a bit inexperienced. He's doing well, but he's still lacking some thinking," admitted the coach, who then added realistically: "If you're down to ten men in this kind of match, things get difficult." These words perfectly capture the spirit of a Como side capable of dreaming big, but led by a coach who never stops building, step by step.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
Como did well, but there are areas for improvement. Fabregas is right in saying that the euphoria needs to be controlled, especially with important matches coming up. Let's hope the lads can stay focused.