At a press conference two days before Bologna – Como, Cesc Fàbregas spoke, answering questions from journalists about Saturday’s match.

Two days before the match against Bologna, Cesc Fàbregas, Como’s coach, appeared at the usual weekend press conference to answer journalists’ questions.

Here are Fàbregas’ words:

“We are facing a Bologna different from Lazio, with Orsolini and Castro important in attack. Will Vojvoda play or have the wingers recovered?
“Yes, a very different team, a strong team and Coppa Italia champions. A strong team, with players who know each other very well and haven’t changed the squad much. Kuhn has had more training sessions, pushed himself, and trained all week. Addai has trained with us for three days, whether he is ready to start from the 1st minute or not, we’ll see, I have to talk to the doctor. But we have options for many roles. Let’s see tomorrow for training.”

“How is Perrone? And Diao?
“Perrone had cramps, but he trained all week. Diao worries me sincerely, he is not well: it is something that goes with what happened after last year’s injury. Not too much, but if something small happens after 4 months and the operation, it worries me. It is important, he can play different roles, and he is already part of our dynamics compared to some young players. Now we have to push other players and we can’t give him much time, but we’ll see how it goes. I don’t want to say how long it will last because I’ll definitely be wrong. A statement will come when someone takes responsibility for it. Everyone is fine except Dossena.”

“Are we talking about a very long thing with Diao?
“This is what worries me, whether you take the short road or take a longer road now to have 100% and last longer after. You are more secure. I’m not a doctor, but I don’t know, specialists are checking. It’s not a fracture, it’s a problem in the area where the plate was placed.”

“It’s difficult to change after Sunday’s match. Touching the team, in short. Will anything change?
“No, we had a good game, but not every game comes out like this. Not just for us because it also depends on others, we have to adapt to them. Some choices depend on other teams, Lazio plays from behind while Bologna puts it behind the defensive line, they have two very strong wingers. They have strong midfielders on second balls. It’s a very different game from Sunday’s. Everyone deserves to play.”

“Cutrone left, now he’s at Parma. Also Gabrielloni…
“I was very lucky to have had players who gave everything for the shirt. I can only thank Cutrone, it’s a loan and not a definite goodbye. He will play the whole season and score 10-12 goals in Serie A, he’s a player who made the promotion from Serie B to A possible. There are things written and things happen for a reason. He always gave his life, has a strong thought, and wants to go to the World Cup. I can’t guarantee him who plays and who doesn’t here. He is very strong mentally, he will try to go to another team to play so that Gattuso can call him up and go to the National Team. Gabrielloni? I had an informal chat with him, I hope I convinced him to stay here. Then it’s a very personal choice, his presence in the locker room is very strong, and I am very convinced that he should stay for all that he gives. Also in spirit. Let’s see, it’s his choice.

“Nagelsmann said that if Kuhn had not been injured, he would have called him up. But in what condition is he now?
“No, he is not injured, I think he meant that he is returning to form. The problem with the National Team is that he has to compete with the others and you have to trust him to give 100%. He is fine, available, not for the whole game but he can come in.”

“What is Como’s process step, also in relation to Europe…
“Every week is the same question. We have to improve what we did last year. The president said we couldn’t afford it? Reassess the young player in the future without a doubt, but it has already been done and the consequences have been seen. For me, it’s difficult to talk about placements, but step by step. Every week we see how the team grows. We are not spending a lot, but in terms of salary, almost everyone can do it. Then we are brave to give them space to play.

“Are you proud of Ramon’s start?
“Yes, I am happy with him and everyone. Our choice is to force it. Like with Nico Paz, in training number one and then the game I told him: ‘You have to play.’ He was already stronger at that moment and from the beginning. I expected him to be further behind, but he has that strength and hunger that sometimes you can’t wait for. They are ready and maybe they arrive earlier than you expected at the beginning.”

“Van der Brempt, an opinion on Lazio. And can he be proposed as a central defender?
“Definitely, because Fellipe Jack goes to play in Serie B. Yes, in the future, he will be a central defender, he is perfect because he knows how to escape and press, he is brave. But let’s see when he will be more stable. Vojvoda can play as a right and left-back, it’s an important thing in a small squad in terms of numbers but many can do many things.”

Sunday we saw an extraordinary intensity. Why did Como get in shape so early?
“You have to prepare to win three points. At the beginning, in the middle, and at the end. To always find solutions. If one is more tired? It doesn’t matter, the other comes in and eats up the field. That’s the feeling I had on Sunday. But bringing in Morata, Caqueret, Sergi Roberto in the last minutes pressing on opponents, this must be our strength.”

“You ran like a team as if it were late September.
“We don’t believe in doing a week of training, 7 out of 7. Better two plus a game, three strong days, and rest. I really like motivation, I like to give days off and short work to rest well and start again. With a lot of energy, an organized team, and sustaining these rhythms during the season.”

“The break week in the National Team, have you already counted how many players will be called up?
“Pre-selected 12, an important number for us. More than 50% of the team. Then we’ll see who they will be. 40% stays here, and the Primavera that trains with us. Is Cutrone among the pre-selected? I don’t know if I can say. Spain will say it tomorrow.”

“Human relationship with players. What other advice given by his coaches does he try to give to his boys? Also considering the great attention…
“They have to manage this. It is a fundamental part of what a player has to do. For better or for worse. Grow in mentality and live day by day. When you live for tomorrow or next week, you are not thinking about what is happening today. We have also seen negative things about what was done on Sunday, it is discussed, for me the boys have just started. Sometimes we make mistakes, but if we think we are more beautiful than we are, we are wrong. I like the team dynamics, what I feel is beautiful. They are boys and friends who want to fight for each other. Sometimes, like with Barcelona, maybe they score 3-4 goals. Like Inter this year that scores goals in a different way. You have to believe in what you do, trying to improve and strengthen what you are doing well.”

“Is there still a relay between Douvikas and Morata?
“We’ll see on Saturday. There are no starters here. During the week, it can change, the important thing is that they understand that whoever is in the best condition plays. I want them to understand that until the last minute everyone wants to play. Those who can get angry or not should do so little because maybe then they play. Compared to last year, it’s already going better, there is no one who gives up in training. Then it’s my choice.”

“Italian players in the squad. We have two groups that train, one as a starter and one separately. A list of 24-25 players will have to be presented, but is the rule of 4 mandatory Italians still in place?
“That’s not a question for me. You have to ask Ludi, the director, I can’t answer you. It’s not mine. No one has told me anything about this. We’ve been doing calculations of what we have to do for a long time.”

“Como is considered a cool team. Is this your idea? Does this situation bother you?
“We want to win. We work to win games, sometimes it will happen and sometimes it won’t. And surely when it doesn’t happen, you’ll tell me ‘what happened’. When it goes well, I go home and have a beer to analyze the next game. It’s nice to win and when everyone talks about you, but in football there is no time and no space. We have to be here and closed to believe in what we do.”

“Bologna was one of the last games that didn’t go well.
“The first half was catastrophic, the second much better but a very difficult game. Is this a different Como? It is a team that when you go to press it plays directly, talking to Italiano he sees his team in a precise way. It is a very different team, dynamics and solutions that will change a lot. If spaces are left, they will play like a Champions League team.”

“What went wrong with Lazio?
“We risked with a static 4-line. In Castellanos’ goal, we made a mistake in the exit time. One mistake can cost a lot. After that, the game went well. We did well for courage.”

“What can you tell us about Jimenez? Azon at Getafe?
“Ivan Azon returned from Ipswich because he didn’t find an agreement, it had nothing to do with medical visits. But now he is traveling to return to England and to Ipswich hoping it will close. No striker is coming.”

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