Cesc Fabregas revealed that he told his players to ease off Manchester United during their Champions League humiliation at the hands of Como in Italy on Wednesday night.
Como were four goals up against Michael Carrick‘s side when Fabregas ordered his players to conserve energy ahead of Saturday’s Serie A clash with Sassuolo.
United scored a late consolation goal through substitute Joshua Zirkzee, and Fabregas admitted that he was angry at himself for not heaping further embarrassment on his opponents.
‘I regret the last 10 minutes because I was the one who told the team to slow down the tempo because there’s another match and at 4-0 we could manage things a little,’ said the former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder.
‘I told the players to stop running and stay in the middle and that is something I regret because I’m the first to always push them to fight until the end. Their goal hurt me because we dropped our intensity and dropped our defensive block, but it was my fault.
‘I’m very happy with how the players applied everything we tried to do, not only in terms of quality, which was high, but also the way we were pressing relentlessly until the 85th minute.
Cesc Fabregas and his Como players celebrate beating Man United – but he wasn’t happy
Fabregas shakes hands with embattled Man United boss Michael Carrick after the game
‘We are trying to create a culture at the club, a style of play and an identity. Tonight was another convincing moment for us.’
Como celebrated the greatest result in the club’s history, seven years after they were playing in the fourth tier of Italian football.
‘I can’t lie to you that it (beating United) wasn’t pride,’ added Fabregas. ‘We know the history of our club, how much they have suffered over the last many years. Obviously, I hope that tomorrow all the boys and girls go to school wearing the Como shirt and feel proud.
‘I always tell the lads, enjoy yourselves, fight, do everything to make the best career possible for each one of you, because it goes by quickly.
‘They made me enjoy myself tonight, but not so much for the win, for the result, because they played like I like my team to play, with conviction, with quality, with a clear head, with aggressiveness, with a fierce pressing.’
Como’s star man was Nico Paz who tormented United with two goals and an assist to hand the Premier League club their heaviest defeat in Europe since losing 4-0 to Barcelona in 1994.
‘It has been one of the most beautiful nights of my career,’ said Paz. ‘I’m still young, but I will never forget it. I used to dream of playing in a match like this, and tonight we’ve gone even further. It’s a historic night for Como fans.’
