Cesc Fabregas Shines in Serie A with Como, Eyes Future at Chelsea

Cesc Fabregas is garnering attention for his impressive managerial work in Italy, where he is steering Como towards European qualification in Serie A. Currently, Como sits sixth in the Italian top flight, just four points away from the Champions League spots. Since his appointment in July 2024, Fabregas has transformed Como from Serie B to a competitive position in Italy’s top six. His former teammate, Eden Hazard, believes that Fabregas is destined to become one of the world’s leading managers and has voiced support for him to eventually take the helm at Chelsea, his former club in West London.

Chelsea recently appointed Liam Rosenior following the departure of Enzo Maresca. However, Hazard is optimistic about Fabregas’ future at the club, a sentiment he is actively championing. In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Hazard remarked, “I’ll be honest, in the summer we talked a bit. I told him he was one of the best midfielders in history and that he’s destined to become one of the best coaches as well. I explained to him that the time has come for him to return to Chelsea, and he joked about it, but I really believe it. He loves football and knows everything about this sport.”

Hazard, a Chelsea fan, expressed his desire to see Fabregas on the bench, adding, “That’s why I dream of seeing Cesc on their bench, while I’ll be staying in the stands behind him, enjoying the show.”

Reflecting on his experiences at Chelsea, Hazard also shared insights on his relationships with past managers, including Maurizio Sarri. He noted, “That’s true, I won a lot with them (Italian coaches Sarri and Carlo Ancelotti). A special relationship had been created between me and Sarri; I think his idea of football is very close to mine. Every now and then, however, I told him that his workouts were boring. It is not a criticism, also because the results prove him right, as well as Conte. Antonio was incredible, he made us do an infinite number of repetitions…”.

Fabregas, at just 38 years old, emphasizes his ongoing commitment to learning as he continues his managerial journey. He stated, “You keep learning. Day to day, you find out new things and new ways. But definitely, it’s a process that’s going very fast, and I’m learning a lot. It’s just about pushing yourself to new limits, being very open to learning and listening. It’s a new world; you are not a player anymore. It’s about learning and analysing in a different context.”

On the Chelsea front, Fabregas acknowledged the club’s investment in young talent, commenting, “They’ve invested big in young players and now, slowly, they’re getting the grip of playing together after making mistakes. I always say that young players need to make mistakes but then be trusted to keep playing, to understand what a team is. You can only win what’s in front of you. I know they were very superior to the rest of the clubs in the Conference League, but they were there and won. They took it seriously, it was a good season. Now they need to take a higher step next year.”

He is also monitoring Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, noting, “Both of them are doing well. They are probably in different stages. Arsenal, after six years [with Mikel Arteta as manager], are trying to build and get into the market, making players from the academy grow. They have a good structure around the team. They had a lot of injuries this year to key players. But hopefully, what they’ve been trying to build over the last six years is coming to fruition.”

Chelsea’s next match is against Wolves this weekend. The Blues currently occupy the fifth position, just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester United, as they continue their pursuit of Champions League qualification.