Como vs Manchester United represents another historic milestone for the Italian club, whose remarkable journey from the lower divisions to Champions League qualification has been driven by head coach Cesc Fabregas, according to sporting director Carlalberto Ludi.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with Manchester United, Ludi reflected on Como’s rapid transformation, Fabregas’ influence on the club’s culture and his unexpected reunion with United captain Bruno Fernandes, whom he played alongside at Novara as a teenager.
The encounter represents more than another European fixture for Como. It offers the club an opportunity to demonstrate how far it has progressed since Fabregas arrived in 2022, when the team was competing in Italy’s second division.
For Ludi, who joined Como in 2019, welcoming Manchester United to the club’s home ground illustrates the scale of a transformation that once seemed difficult to imagine.
Como vs Manchester United: Fabregas Transforms Italian Club
Como’s rise through Italian football has been remarkable, with Fabregas playing a central role in the club’s development since arriving four years ago.
The former Spain international initially joined Como towards the end of his playing career, when the club was competing in Serie B. After retiring, he moved into coaching, working with the academy before eventually taking charge of the senior team.
His influence has coincided with a period of extraordinary progress. Como secured promotion to Serie A for the first time in 21 years before qualifying for the Champions League last season for the first time in its history.
Ludi believes Fabregas has contributed far more than tactical knowledge, arguing that the Spaniard has changed the club’s mentality, professionalism and overall working environment.
“Cesc made a big difference. Not only on the field, but also off the field, in my opinion – the culture of the club, everything. The professionalism, everything, to be honest,” Ludi said.
“He brought his mentality into the club and that’s one of the reasons why we improved and grew so quickly. Thanks to him, we are fantastic, to be honest.”
The sporting director added that Fabregas helped prepare the squad mentally for the demands of competing against Europe’s leading teams.
Fabregas’ Mentality Shapes Como’s Identity
Ludi believes Como’s development reflects the values Fabregas demonstrated throughout his own playing career.
The coach enjoyed an accomplished career at the highest level, representing clubs including Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea, while also winning major honours with Spain.
According to Ludi, those experiences have influenced how Como approaches football, from its tactical ambitions to the character and attitude expected of its players.
“Our team is Cesc Fabregas on the field. Courage, intelligence, talent, talented players. We are trying to do the same with our team,” he said.
“The way Cesc is and the way Cesc was as a footballer is what we want to be as a team.”
Ludi also praised the coach’s willingness to continue learning despite his growing reputation.
“He’s very young, but he’s so open-minded, to be honest. He’s the first who wants to improve and learn,” the sporting director said.
“That, in my opinion, is one of his best qualities and he’s making a difference.”
The comments underline the importance Como places on continuous improvement as the club attempts to establish itself among Italy’s leading teams rather than treating its recent success as a temporary achievement.
Bruno Fernandes Reunion Adds Extra Interest to Como vs Manchester United
The Champions League meeting also brings an unexpected personal connection for Ludi, who previously shared a dressing room with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes at Italian club Novara.
Fernandes was just 17 when the pair played together, with Ludi serving as captain and helping the young midfielder adjust to the demands of professional football.
The Portuguese international subsequently progressed through Italian football, representing Udinese and Sampdoria before moving to Sporting Lisbon and eventually Manchester United.
His development into one of United’s most prominent players has made the reunion particularly meaningful for Ludi, who remembers the midfielder’s early days in the professional game.
Asked about Fernandes, Ludi described his former teammate as “phenomenal”.
Ludi Remembers Fernandes as a Humble Young Player
Ludi said Fernandes initially needed guidance as he adjusted to life in a professional dressing room.
“I’m really happy to speak about Bruno,” Ludi said.
“We met each other when he was a kid, literally a kid. He was a kid in a professional environment, so he probably wasn’t ready to join a professional environment.”
The Como sporting director explained that he helped the teenager understand the responsibilities and expectations associated with professional football.
“At the beginning, I needed to guide him in our dressing room in order for him to understand what being a professional meant,” he said.
However, Ludi recalled that Fernandes quickly demonstrated qualities that made him stand out, both as a footballer and as a person.
“But then, to be honest, it was fantastic because I met a fantastic guy, a humble person, a top footballer, but an open-minded guy, always ready to support, ready to help, ready to enjoy, ready to have fun with all of us.”
Fernandes’ subsequent achievements have given Ludi plenty of reasons to celebrate his progress.
“He’s a very nice guy, so I was so happy and I always celebrated his improvement because he deserves it,” he added.
Ludi said he hoped to meet Fernandes again after the match, describing the prospect of facing his former teammate in the Champions League as something he had never expected.
“It was just one season but a great season for all of us, and I think that I met one of the best people I’ve ever met in my life,” he said.
Manchester United Visit Marks Another Historic Chapter for Como
Como’s match against Manchester United represents a major moment for a club whose recent achievements have exceeded expectations.
The club’s promotion to Serie A in May 2024 provided the foundation for its subsequent progress, with a draw against Cosenza securing the point needed to confirm promotion.
That achievement began a new chapter in Como’s history, eventually leading to the club’s qualification for the Champions League.
For Ludi, the opportunity to welcome Manchester United is particularly significant because he has witnessed the club’s transformation from close range.
“Yeah, it’s incredible, to be honest,” he said.
“I started to work here in 2019 and there was nothing.”
He contrasted those early days with the club’s current position, preparing to host one of the most recognisable names in European football.
“Now we have the Champions League, we have Man Utd at home, and it’s something that is amazing, literally amazing,” Ludi said.
His remarks capture the sense of pride surrounding Como, although the sporting director also recognises that the club must continue progressing to make its success sustainable.
Como Wants to Compete Rather Than Celebrate Its Arrival
Ludi said the club’s achievements should be appreciated, even as players and staff continue working towards new targets.
He acknowledged that football’s constant demand for improvement can make it easy to overlook how far a team has travelled.
“Sometimes it’s good to look behind, because sometimes we forget what we did. In football, every day there is something to achieve, there is a reason to step forward,” he said.
The sporting director insisted that Como’s ambition was to create a lasting legacy rather than simply enjoy the publicity surrounding its rise.
“I don’t want to be arrogant, but we are here to write the history of Como, and this is another page, a big page of our history,” he said.
“We want our fans to be proud of us and we want to compete, to fight, in order to write another page. First of all, it will be another nice page in the history of Como.”
The comments reflect a club determined to build on its progress and establish itself as a credible competitor in Italian and European football.
Can Fabregas Lead Como to Another Statement Result?
The meeting with Manchester United provides Como with an opportunity to measure its development against a club with a long history of competing at the highest level.
Read also: Manchester United injury news: Martinez, Heaven and Rashford face fitness tests ahead of Como clash
For Fabregas, the challenge is to translate the culture and mentality he has helped establish into performances capable of sustaining the team’s European ambitions.
Ludi’s assessment suggests that the coach’s impact has extended beyond matchday tactics, shaping the professionalism and confidence that Como believes are essential to its continued progress.
The sporting director’s memories of Fernandes also add a personal dimension to the fixture, bringing together two men whose careers developed along different paths after their time at Novara.
Fernandes arrives as Manchester United’s captain, while Ludi has helped oversee Como’s remarkable transformation from a lower-league club into a Champions League participant.
For the Italian side, the occasion is both a test and a celebration of progress.
Como may still have work to do before it can consistently compete with Europe’s established elite, but its journey has already demonstrated the value of clear ambition, sustained development and strong leadership.
As Manchester United prepare to visit, Fabregas and his players have another opportunity to add a significant chapter to the club’s growing history.
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