Cesc Fabregas has dismissed suggestions that he could replace Michael Carrick as Manchester United manager, saying the speculation shows a lack of respect for the former England midfielder.
Fabregas and Carrick will meet as opposing managers when Como host United, 17 years after facing each other as players in both legs of the 2008-09 Champions League semi-final between Arsenal and United. United won that tie 4-1 on aggregate.
Carrick is under pressure after a difficult beginning to his spell as United’s permanent head coach. The club have won only one of their first seven Premier League matches in 2026-27.
It is their lowest number of victories after seven games of a top-flight season since 1986-87, when they also had only one win.
United have also gone six matches without victory. Their most recent success came on MD1 of the Champions League, when they beat Sabah 4-0.
Como, by contrast, have continued to progress under Fabregas. They first secured promotion to Serie A and then qualified for the Champions League for the first time.
The Spanish coach has been linked with Chelsea and Barcelona during the past year, while United have now been mentioned as another possible future destination. However, Fabregas offered public backing to Carrick when asked about the prospect of succeeding him.
“I won’t answer that question because I think that’s not a very nice question,” Fabregas said on Tuesday.
“I don’t think that shows enough respect to a great footballer and manager like Michael Carrick at the helm of a wonderful Manchester United side.”
The match will be the first between Como and United.
Since the start of last season, English clubs have won five of the six Champions League meetings involving Italian and English sides. The only exception was Atalanta’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea.
United’s away record in the competition has been less convincing. They have won only one of their past 10 Champions League matches on the road, drawing three and losing six, and have kept just one clean sheet in their last 15 away games.
Both records came in the same match: a 2-0 victory over Villarreal in November 2021.
“Manchester United is a historical club I know very, very well,” Fabregas added.
“We have so much respect for who they are, for what they do, because they have incredible players.
“I know Steve Holland very well because I worked with him for years at Chelsea, and I know Michael has done really well in previous clubs as well.
“Last year he did really well, bringing Manchester United back to where they belong, which is the Champions League, for the first time in many years, so it’s not all bad.
“It’s an honour to host them for the first time in our history.”
