Como manager Cesc Fabregas says the club’s priority is to continue developing in Serie A, rather than becoming distracted by the possibility of qualifying for the Champions League.
Como begin their new league campaign away to Udinese on Saturday afternoon, with Fabregas warning that the season will present a significant challenge in one of Europe’s most competitive domestic competitions.
The Spanish coach acknowledged that Champions League qualification would represent a major achievement for Como, but said it should not become the team’s immediate focus.
“Champions League qualification would be a very nice gift for us, but the league will be very difficult. We must focus on the league first, and the primary goal is to continue to grow.”
Fabregas made the comments in an interview before the start of the new season, as Como prepare for their first Serie A fixture of the campaign.
The club’s ambitions have attracted attention, but Fabregas said the squad must concentrate on establishing further progress in the league. For him, improvement remains more important at this stage than setting a target of reaching European football’s elite competition.
He also described Serie A as one of the hardest leagues in Europe, pointing to the number of strong teams competing at the highest level.
“In some ways, it is one of the most difficult leagues to play in Europe. The number of high-level teams here is higher than in many other leagues.”
Como’s opening match against Udinese will provide the first opportunity to assess the team’s progress ahead of a demanding league campaign. Fabregas expects the quality and depth of Serie A to make every fixture difficult, reinforcing his view that the club’s development must come before thoughts of Champions League qualification.
The manager also admitted that Como’s work in the transfer market is not complete. Although the club have been building their squad for the new season, Fabregas believes further additions may still be required.
“We are still missing some things, such as a striker. But this is not an easy choice to make.”
The search for a forward remains one of the areas Como would like to address, although Fabregas indicated that choosing the right player will require care. He did not suggest that a quick decision would be made simply to complete the squad.
For now, Como’s stated main objective is continued growth in Serie A. Champions League qualification remains an attractive possibility rather than the central demand placed on the team, with the league campaign beginning at Udinese on Saturday afternoon.
