Cesc Fabregas expressed regret over instructing his Como players to reduce their intensity during the final stages of their Champions League match against Manchester United. Como held a commanding 4-0 lead when the former Arsenal midfielder advised his team to ease off in order to conserve energy for an upcoming Serie A fixture against Sassuolo.

The Italian side had secured their most significant victory to date, marking a remarkable rise since competing in the fourth tier of Italian football seven years ago. However, in the final ten minutes, Manchester United managed to score a consolation goal, prompting Fabregas to acknowledge his responsibility for the late slip in focus.

"I regret the last 10 minutes because I told the team to slow down the tempo since there’s another match and at 4-0 we could manage things a little," Fabregas said. He explained that he instructed his players to stop sprinting and hold their positions in midfield, a decision he now considers a mistake. "That is something I regret because we dropped our intensity. It was my fault."

Despite the late goal, Como celebrated what Fabregas described as a source of pride for the club. The former Spanish international highlighted the significance of the win, reflecting on the club’s rapid progression in recent years.