Cesc Fabregas has made Como's meeting with AS Roma about more than points. Speaking ahead of Como vs AS Roma, he used Mikel Arteta and Gian Piero Gasperini as reference points for why coaches need time, clear ideas and trust, while injuries to Mile Svilar and Moise Kean add a selection problem on both sides.

Fabregas' case for patience

Fabregas said Arsenal's Arteta showed why managers should be allowed to work through early criticism. He also said, on goal.com, that coaches need "strength, not power" over the system and that directors can interfere too much.

The praise for Gasperini followed naturally. Fabregas said the Roma coach has been working for 30 years and described AS Roma as a very positive, attacking team. That is the angle he wanted to stress: this is a match between two sides with clear ideas, even if one of them is still trying to prove the value of patience around a project.

The table backs that up well enough. Como are eighth in Serie A with 10 points after five matches, while Roma are second with 13. Como have also taken 10 points from their opening five league games, which explains why Fabregas is speaking about them as a side that can live in this kind of fixture rather than just chase it.

Injuries and the Roma selection call

The injury news gives Roma a sharper edge to solve. Fabregas said Mile Svilar suffered a stress fracture and will be out for at least a month, while Moise Kean is set to miss at least a week to 10 days after a nasty knock against Belgium.

Pierluigi Gollini is expected to step in for Svilar, and Gasperini has already spoken up for him, saying he has trained well and now has the chance to play with continuity. Roma still arrive with 13 points from five matches, but the absence of Svilar removes one of the more stable parts of their start.

Fabregas did not try to dress the game up as anything other than a serious test. He called Roma a great team with a great coach, and the tension before kick-off is straightforward enough. Como are trying to show that their start is real, and Roma are trying to keep pace at the top while managing absences in key positions.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →