Cesc Fabregas, Como 1907 manager, watches the Torino vs. Como Serie A clash at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on Oct 27, 2026 in Turin. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Fabregas tells his squad that Lens will deliver a ferocious atmosphere tomorrow and urges them to monitor Florian Thauvin closely.
The match kicks off at Stade Bollaert‑Delelis on Wednesday, 20:00 GMT (21:00 CET).
In their debut Champions League run, the Lariani have impressed, netting four goals in home wins over RB Leipzig and Manchester United, yet fell short away to Feyenoord.
Though Lens may lack the pedigree of those opponents on paper, Fabregas insists they cannot be taken lightly on their turf.
Fabregas sharpens Como’s focus ahead of the Lens showdown.
“The vibe here is electric; I played in Monaco a few times, and nights like this let you feel the passion even during warm‑ups,” Fabregas said to Sky Sport Italia.
“It’ll be a thrilling, unforgettable experience for our players. We craved these moments—if you’re not fired up, you’re in the wrong job,” he added.
A familiar face returns to French football: former Udinese striker Florian Thauvin has thrived since his comeback.
“Thauvin is a phenomenal talent—Marseille product, then faced us at Udinese. He changes games, boasts huge quality, scores plenty, and serves as this team’s focal point. We must keep a tight eye on him,” Fabregas noted.
Como may no longer be a surprise act; a win in Lens would raise their ambitions dramatically.
“We’ll aim for victory and then assess. This season opens a whole new chapter for Como; a solid result could shape our approach to the final four fixtures, but we’ll take each match as it comes,” Fabregas said.
“There’s no point speculating ahead—just enjoy these nights,” he urged.
For my money, Como’s shift from sheer firepower to tactical flexibility is their smartest move yet.
“We must adapt to different scenarios. We played 39 games last season, 43 the next, and this year we expect at least 47‑48, maybe over 50, so energy balance is crucial,” he explained.
“There are phases where control matters; last season we dominated the first hour then faded. We won’t repeat that this term, so we stay vigilant,” he added.
A heavyweight Serie A clash with Inter looms this weekend, yet Como are shorthanded, missing Trevoh Chalobah, Moise Kean, Jesús Rodríguez, Assane Diao and Jayden Addai.
“Chalobah isn’t fit yet; we’ll review on Sunday. Our Champions League squad is trimmed to 15 players, making energy management tougher, but Serie A remains our priority,” Fabregas said.
Following the tragic death of Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel in a freak accident during a Spanish second‑division game against FC Andorra, Fabregas expressed condolences.
“Football is a beautiful sport, yet moments like this are heartbreaking. My thoughts go to his parents—I’m a father too, and seeing your son’s life end in an instant is unimaginable,” he said.
“It’s a massive loss; I can’t fathom their pain. I send my embrace to his family and teammates—this tragedy will never be forgotten,” he added.