COMO, ITALY - JULY 27: Head coach Como Cesc Fabregas looks on during the final of the Como Cup played between Como and Ajax at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on July 27, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
COMO, ITALY - JULY 27: Head coach Como Cesc Fabregas looks on during the final of the Como Cup played between Como and Ajax at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on July 27, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Barcelona are set to lock horns with Como in the Joan Gamper Trophy final tomorrow, in what will be the club’s final friendly before the season starts later this month.
This promises to be a special game for Como coach Cesc Fabregas, who has spent much of his footballing career in Barcelona and was a product of La Masia.
Heading into this game, Fabregas talked about his homecoming while also touching upon several hot topics at Barcelona, including Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Fabregas admitted it will be a special game for him due to his Barcelona past.
“The emotions are high and very beautiful. I spent a large part of my life, career, and childhood here. Of course, it’s always wonderful to return home,” he said.
The Como head coach, though, added that the focus will be on securing a victory against his former club.
“The feeling of returning home is wonderful, but we are here to prepare for a very important match for our club,” he said.
Talking about the game itself, Fabregas admitted that this is more than just a friendly club.
“We will play against Barcelona, the best team in Europe. It’s more than a friendly match because we can assess many things,” he said.
The former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder went on to talk about several hot topics at Barça right now.
First things first, he was asked about the ongoing tension between Marc-Andre ter Stegen, even though the club have finally reinstated the German as a club captain.
Fabregas, though, mostly avoided the question, answering, **“I don’t know exactly what happened, so I’d prefer not to say anything.**“
COMO, ITALY - JULY 27: Como 1907 coach Cesc Fabregas issues instructions to his players during the Como Cup Final match between Como 1907 and Ajax at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on July 27, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
COMO, ITALY - JULY 27: Como 1907 coach Cesc Fabregas issues instructions to his players during the Como Cup Final match between Como 1907 and Ajax at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on July 27, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The Como head coach also talked about Hansi Flick and the way he has adopted a high defensive line at Barça.
“What Flick is doing with the defensive line seems very innovative and interesting to me. Excited to face him tomorrow,” he said.
Fabregas also offered his thoughts on Barcelona’s latest signing, Marcus Rashford, even backing the Englishman to do well.
“Rashford seems to me a successful deal for Barcelona, he will offer a lot,” said the former Arsenal midfielder.
Finally, Fabregas heaped praise on two of Barcelona’s Spanish superstars in the form of Pedri and Lamine Yamal.
“Football needs players like Pedri. He is a player I really admire,” he said about Pedri.
“Lamine Yamal is an amazing player. Football has become somewhat mechanical, so it’s important to have players with such talent and magic,” he concluded.
Regarding Como’s interest in signing Barcelona outcast Inaki Pena, Fabregas noted:
“I don’t like to talk about the market, but if there’s an opportunity, we’ll see it, we’ll analyze it. I hope all the big players can fit into our dynamic, be competitive.”
MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 26: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's third goal with teammate Robert Lewandowski during the LaLiga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 26, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 26: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's third goal with teammate Robert Lewandowski during the LaLiga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 26, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY - JULY 26: Jeffren of Barcelona runs with the ball during the Audi Cup match between FC Barcelona and International de Porto Alegre at Allianz Arena on July 26, 2011 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY - JULY 26: Jeffren of Barcelona runs with the ball during the Audi Cup match between FC Barcelona and International de Porto Alegre at Allianz Arena on July 26, 2011 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)