According to a report by Daily Post on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Como head coach Cesc Fabregas has revealed that he instructed his players to ease their attacking pressure after taking a commanding four-goal lead against Manchester United during their UEFA Champions League encounter.

The Italian side delivered an impressive performance on Wednesday night, securing a convincing 4-1 victory over Michael Carrick's team in a match that exposed several weaknesses in Manchester United's defensive setup.

Como's attacking midfielder Nico Paz was particularly influential throughout the contest, scoring twice and setting up another goal for Anastasios Douvikas. His outstanding contribution helped the home side establish control and put Manchester United under considerable pressure.

The situation became even more difficult for the English club when Jacobo Ramon added Como's fourth goal in the 76th minute, effectively putting the result beyond Manchester United's reach.

With his players enjoying a comfortable 4-0 advantage, Fabregas decided to change his approach by encouraging them to reduce their intensity and concentrate on controlling the remaining minutes.

The former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder explained after the match that his decision was influenced by the need to manage his squad's fitness ahead of their next competitive assignment.

However, Fabregas acknowledged that the instructions ultimately affected his team's concentration during the closing stages.

Manchester United took advantage of the reduced pressure to score a late consolation goal through Joshua Zirkzee, denying Como the opportunity to finish the encounter with a clean sheet.

Reflecting on the situation, the Spanish manager admitted that he was disappointed with his team's performance during the final ten minutes.

He explained that he had personally encouraged his players to lower the tempo because they were already four goals ahead and needed to conserve energy for another important fixture.

Although the decision did not threaten Como's victory, Fabregas suggested that his team should have maintained greater discipline until the referee's final whistle.

The result represented a significant achievement for the Italian outfit, who demonstrated their ability to compete effectively against one of the most recognised clubs in European football.

Paz's performance was particularly important, as his creativity, movement and finishing repeatedly created problems for Manchester United's defenders.

Meanwhile, the defeat has placed additional pressure on Carrick and his players, especially considering the manner in which they struggled to prevent Como from creating dangerous opportunities.

Manchester United will now have to examine their defensive mistakes and improve their overall organisation before returning to action.

For Fabregas, the victory provided further evidence of his team's attacking potential, although the late goal highlighted an area requiring improvement.

Despite expressing disappointment over the closing stages, the Como manager will undoubtedly be pleased with the overall result and the confidence his players displayed against Manchester United.

The encounter also demonstrated how quickly a team's performance can change when its attacking intensity drops, even after establishing a substantial advantage.