Fabregas Urges Clubs to Give Managers More Time

Como coach Cesc Fabregas has called for greater patience with football managers while praising Arsenal's Mikel Arteta and Roma's Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of Como's Serie A meeting with Roma on Sunday. Speaking before the match, Fabregas argued that clubs should maintain confidence in their coaches and give their ideas time to produce results.

Fabregas, who began his managerial career in 2023, has guided Como through promotion and into the Champions League in just two seasons. He pointed to Arteta's experience at Arsenal as an example of why short-term results should not always determine a manager's future.

Arteta recently renewed his contract with Arsenal, according to Fabregas, whose comments emphasized the importance of allowing a long-term project to develop.

"I watched Arsenal and Mikel Arteta just renewed his contract with the club. Now you can see the results of his work, but at the start he didn’t do well, he let people criticise and talk. We’ve got to have clear ideas. Normally, but admittedly not always, the results do arrive after a few months," Fabregas said during his pre-match briefing.

The Como manager also questioned the influence of sporting directors in decisions about team management. He argued that coaches need sufficient authority to establish their tactical approach and identify the players required to implement it.

"In my view, a coach must put the players on the field with faith. I do see a matter of ego in there, including with directors. How can you fire a coach after just two games?

The director of sport at times feels like he ought to be a coach. As far as I am concerned, I feel that a coach ought to have a lot of strength, not power, over the system he plays, what type of player is required. Seeing from the outside what happens when a coach loses," Fabregas said.

Turning to Sunday's opponents, Fabregas expressed admiration for Gasperini, who joined Roma last year after a successful nine-year spell in charge of Atalanta. According to the source report, Gasperini has guided Roma into the Champions League and the team sits atop the Serie A standings after the opening five rounds.

Fabregas highlighted Roma's attacking approach and Gasperini's record of helping players develop throughout their careers. He also noted the similarities between their footballing philosophies, particularly their preference for forward movement and attacking play.

"There are many elements that create debate and the media enjoys, but it is an important match against a great team and a great coach. I have great respect for how they play. Roma are a very positive and attacking team who commit men forward.

Gian Piero Gasperini helped so many players to step up in their careers. We both like to be attacking, to use the movement, and their matches are entertaining to watch. Gasperini has been working for 30 years, so you can only admire his approach.

I have enormous respect, he really does believe in what he does," Fabregas said.

Como's growing European commitments have created another challenge for the coaching staff as the club adjusts to competing in the Champions League alongside domestic competition. The team opened its European campaign with a 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig and is scheduled to face Feyenoord away on Wednesday.

Fabregas acknowledged that managing a heavier fixture schedule requires careful assessment of how his squad responds. He said Como must adapt quickly and involve more players to cope with the demands of competing on multiple fronts.

"When playing many games, I must do well to understand how the team is reacting, because we’ve never done this before, and I can’t just explain to them how to do it. We’ve got to get used to this as quickly as possible, with as many players as possible, so everyone will get their opportunity. I too wonder whether I am more worried or curious to see how we react. I want to see how it goes, also for my own experience as a coach, and only time will tell," Fabregas said.

Squad availability remains a concern before the Roma fixture. Fabregas said Moise Kean would be sidelined for at least a week to 10 days after sustaining a heavy blow against Belgium during international duty. He also discussed Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar, whom he considers one of Serie A's strongest performers in recent seasons.

"Kean will be out for at least a week to 10 days, he had a nasty knock against Belgium. I spoke to Roberto Mancini and Kean, I was told there is the possibility of using him with another centre-forward, but right now I don’t see it. Svilar has in my mind been the best goalkeeper in Serie A over the last two seasons. It changes nothing for me, but I saw with my own eyes Svilar bring many points to Roma," Fabregas said.