Historic Nine-Goal European Margin Demands San Siro Reset, Fabregas Warns
Speaking in an extended interview, Como 1907 head coach Cesc Fabregas detailed the technical and psychological factors behind his side’s historic 9-1 Champions League victory over RC Lens.
The result established Como as the first Italian club to score nine goals in a single match in Champions League history and set the competition record for the largest winning margin in an away fixture. The victory moved the squad to fourth place in the league phase standings with nine points after four matches.
Cesc Fabregas
coachFabregas Evaluates Unprecedented Nine-Goal Scoreline Against Lens
When asked to reflect on the overwhelming scale of the victory in France, Fabregas highlighted the rarity of the scoreline while insisting that long-term perspective remains vital during a busy domestic and European campaign.
Nobody could have expected a 9-1 scoreline, a result that doesn’t normally exist in football. Something like that happens once in a lifetime. I’m proud of my boys. The numbers are excellent, but we’re only at the beginning of our journey in the Champions League. We’ve played four games.
The nine-goal performance featured seven distinct goalscorers, led by a hat-trick from Tasos Douvikas alongside strikes from Nico Paz, Lucas Da Cunha, Marc-Oliver Kempf, Mattia Liberali, Martin Baturina, and 18-year-old debutant Matteo Papaccioli. Despite establishing early territorial dominance, Fabregas noted minor structural lapses following three second-half adjustments that permitted a consolation goal from Ruben Aguilar. The win keeps Como in fourth place, trailing only Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and Arsenal in the European table.
Fabregas Shifts Focus to Upcoming San Siro Fixture Against Inter
Prompted on how the squad must handle the emotional high of a historic European victory ahead of returning to Serie A action, Fabregas emphasized the necessity of an immediate tactical reset.
It’s right that we enjoy this moment because the group deserves it, but football moves at a very fast pace. I’ve already told the boys that we have to archive the Lens game and only think about Inter. A very tough game lies ahead of us at the home of the reigning Italian champions. It will be a tough challenge from a physical and mental point of view. We don’t have much time but we have to prepare as best as we can.
Navigating their ninth fixture between consecutive international windows, Como faces a rapid turn to visit San Siro, where they currently hold fourth place in Serie A alongside their strong continental standing. Managing player fatigue and squad balance remains critical as the team seeks to retain its possession structure against the domestic champions before turning to late-stage European phase fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona in January.
Addressing the tactical differences between their midweek win and October’s away defeat to Feyenoord, Fabregas clarified that the team’s underlying approach and physical intensity remained unchanged despite the contrasting results, attributing the earlier loss strictly to finishing efficiency rather than a drop in application.
This interview was originally published by La Gazzetta dello Sport.