Como 1907 put in a devastating performance against Manchester United in midweek, but Cesc Fabregas has taken responsibility for the team letting up late on.
For much of the 90 minutes of Como’s Champions League clash with Manchester United on Wednesday, the hosts ran riot.
Nico Paz was particularly impressive, scoring two and assisting another of his team’s four goals. But it was a strong performance all around from former Gunner Cesc Fabregas’ side.
Speaking after the game, Fabregas admitted his one regret is that he told the team to ease off, looking to their next game.
United ultimately took advantage to score a late consolation in the 91st minute, denying Como the clean sheet to go with their three points.
“I have some regrets over the last 10 minutes maybe,” Fabregas said. “I was actually saying to the team to ‘slow the tempo, because we have another game coming up’.
“When we were 4-0 up, maybe we could have actually managed things. I told Tasos Douvikas to stay in the middle of the park, to run less. I have some regrets about that, because I’m always the one who is driving them on, pushing them to keep fighting until the 95th minute.
“So it really hurt me, conceding that goal, and that came about because our intensity dropped off because we went into a lower block. But that’s my fault, I’ll take that away with me.”
Fabregas and Como can’t be too disappointed overall, having won two of their first three Champions League fixtures to sit ninth in the standings, only outside of the top-eight on goals scored.
With some winnable games against RC Lens (A), AEK Athens (H), and Real Betis (A), Como will hope to be in a strong position before their tricky final two fixtures at home to Paris Saint-Germain and away to FC Barcelona.
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