FOOTBALL
Posted on February 16, 2026 6:30 pm | Updated on February 16, 2026 4:13 pm
Cesc Fabregas did not mince words after Como fell 2-1 to Fiorentina in Serie A, as the former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder publicly challenged a Chelsea Flop Player following a late red card meltdown.
Saturday’s fixture at Como’s home ground had tension, urgency, and then chaos. Nicolo Fagioli opened the scoring for Fiorentina before Moise Keane doubled the lead from the penalty spot. Como found hope when Fabiano Parisi turned the ball into his own net. But any comeback dreams evaporated in stoppage time when Alvaro Morata saw red after two yellow cards in less than a minute.
Chelsea football players completely IGNORE children waiting to see them.
The footballers have been slammed online after refusing to even acknowledge the children as they excitedly waited to see them.
pic.twitter.com/HnGAC76b9S
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) February 16, 2026
Cesc Fabregas Sends a Message After Chelsea Flop Player Meltdown
Morata entered as a second-half substitute. Within moments, he was walking off.
The 33-year-old forward received his first booking after an off-the-ball clash with Luca Ranieri. Seconds later, he appeared to argue his way into a second yellow. Referee Matteo Marchetti wasted no time producing the red card. Ten men. Game over.
Fabregas did not defend him. Not even close.
“Provocation is part of football, those who can’t live with that should play another sport,” Fabregas said post-match. The comment was sharp, deliberate, and very public.
According to sources, the coach was visibly frustrated in the dressing room. He expected composure. He got combustion.
This is not a youth prospect learning the ropes. This is a seasoned international striker. Experience is supposed to calm storms, not create them.
Morata, on loan from AC Milan, has yet to score in 15 league appearances for Como. That drought now feels heavier.
Cesc Fabregas on Attitude, Accountability, and a Young Squad
Fabregas did not hide behind referee decisions or luck. He turned the spotlight inward.
“I’m annoyed that I wasn’t able to help the boys understand the importance of the game,” he said. He admitted he leaned on his own playing experience during the week, perhaps too much.
“We’re a young team,” he added.
The coach described the second half bluntly. “It wasn’t a football match.” Physical, scrappy, emotional. The kind of game where discipline decides margins.
Fabregas emphasized attitude. Motivation. Energy. He repeated that the problem was mental as much as tactical.
That is telling.
When managers start talking about desire, it usually means they saw something missing. Body language. Sharpness. Edge.
Como now have two league matches without a win. Momentum matters in Serie A. Lose it, and the table tightens fast.
Cesc Fabregas and the Pressure on a Chelsea Flop Player
Morata has talent. Always has. Movement. Intelligence. Work rate. But finishing defines strikers, and right now, the net seems allergic.
His stint in England earned him the harsh “Chelsea Flop Player” tag. Italy was meant to be a reset. A clean slate. Instead, the goals remain absent.
When goals dry up, frustration grows. When frustration spills over, cards follow.
Fabregas knows this game. Fabregas has lived it at the highest level. He understands provocation. He also understands that reacting is optional.
Public criticism from a manager is not casual. It is a calculated nudge. Sometimes it is a wake-up call.
According to sources, Fabregas wants leaders on the pitch. Not emotional passengers.
The message was clear: composure is non-negotiable.
Author’s Opinion: Tough Love or Tactical Risk?
Here is the truth. Fabregas is right.
Elite football is psychological war in the form of sport. Opponents poke. They whisper. They test your ego. If you cannot handle that, ninety minutes will feel like ninety insults.
Telling a veteran to “play another sport” is bold. It risks headlines. It invites debate. But it also sets standards.
You cannot build a serious project without discipline. Young teams mirror senior players. If the experienced striker loses control, what example does that set?
Still, public rebukes are double-edged. Confidence is fragile, especially for a striker without goals. The line between accountability and alienation is thin.
Fabregas is betting that honesty will spark response, not resentment.
Como now look ahead to their next fixture knowing the spotlight is bright. For Morata, the path is simple. Score. Stay calm. Let the boots talk.
In Serie A, patience runs short. And as this weekend showed, so does tolerance for losing your head.
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