After guiding Como to Serie A safety with four matches to spare, Cesc Fàbregas is understandably a man in demand. Yet, despite interest from some of Italy’s biggest clubs, the 37-year-old manager says his future is still undecided. Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Il Corriere dello Sport, Fàbregas reflected on his first season as a coach, the influence of his mentors, and the uncertainty surrounding his next move.
“The future? I don’t know yet, nothing has been decided,” Fàbregas said. “I need a short break after the end of the season, a moment to breathe before I sit down with Como. I’m very lucky to be at a club where the daily work is the same whether we win or lose. There’s constant dialogue. I demand a lot, yes, but that’s something Conte taught me—he told me recently that in our job, the only one truly at risk is the coach. That’s the essence of this profession. Internal and external expectations are always there.”
While confirming Como remains a priority, Fàbregas was candid about the interest from other clubs. “It’s only natural that some teams have reached out. Clubs are looking for players and coaches. It happens everywhere. Are we pretending that no one ever called Simeone all these years? And yet he’s still at Atlético. There’s a time for everything.”
Linked with Roma, Milan, and Napoli
Fàbregas confirmed longstanding links with Roma, Milan, and Napoli, dating back to his final playing years. “Yes, Roma have shown interest, just like Emery. He’s doing a great job at Aston Villa with a solid project. Monchi? When I was at Chelsea, he tried to bring me to Roma. It was a tough time—Conte had just arrived and was using Matic and Kanté in midfield in his 3-4-3. I wasn’t coping well. I had to push hard to prove myself.”
He continued, “That’s when I spoke to Monchi for Roma and Gazidis for Milan. Both clubs wanted me. Even Ancelotti made an attempt when he was at Napoli. One night, he was at a restaurant with his wife and Darren [Dee, Fàbregas’ agent] saw him. He told me, ‘Watch, Carlo’s going to ask you to join Napoli.’ And it’s true—the first thing he said when we shook hands was, ‘Are you ready to come with me?’”
Reflecting on his evolution from player to coach, Fàbregas paid homage to his greatest mentors, especially Arsène Wenger, whom he called “the best coach I ever had.” “Wenger is a constant presence. He still texts me after every game. I carry with me everything I learned from him: how he managed young players, how modern he was in his communication. He treated everyone with respect, even the last man in the squad. He had everything under control. He was an incredible forward-thinker.”
As for tactical inspiration, Fàbregas was clear. “Guardiola is my reference point on the pitch. He worked tirelessly on tactics and always showed us something new. Of course, he had players who could express his ideas: Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Messi… But what struck me about Wenger was that he looked for players who could adapt to his football, not just the most talented. Rosický, Van Persie, Senderos, Xhaka, Reyes, Özil, Debuchy… and of course Bergkamp.”
He also praised José Mourinho, Antonio Conte, and Gian Piero Gasperini, noting their unique contributions. “People say Mourinho and Guardiola are opposites, but they share the same obsession with winning. Their mindset is elite. Antonio’s the same. I learned a lot from him—his clarity, his methodology, and his demand for results. He changed his formation three or four times during a game against us just to unsettle us and go for the win. That kind of adaptability is extraordinary.”
“Gasperini was just as difficult to face. I was told it was the first time he used a four-man defence. It forced me to make constant adjustments. When he brought on Brescianini as a left wing-back, it really disrupted us.”
Fàbregas also offered insights into his own coaching style, particularly his analytical approach. “I study opponents closely. One of my analysts reviews the last six matches of the team we’re going to face. I watch two or three games myself—I need to understand how we can hurt them. We also do individualised player development. One of my assistants works one-on-one with a player at a time. It makes the player feel valued and followed.”
With Como now safe and comfortably mid-table in their first Serie A season in over two decades, speculation about Fàbregas’ next move is only intensifying. Whether he stays to build on this foundation or answers the call of a bigger club remains to be seen. But as the Spaniard himself said, there’s a time for everything.
For now, Como fans can enjoy the fact that the man who helped them dream again, who brought back pride and identity, is still theirs.
