Cesc Fabregas says he is in no hurry to leave Como after leading the club to the Champions League for the first time in its history.
On a dramatic final day in Serie A Como beat Cremonese 4-1 to give themselves a chance of making the Champions League, but needed AC Milan at home to lose to Cagliari.
Despite taking the lead after one minute, Milan fell to a disastrous 2-1 defeat to the team which finished 14th in the table.
The nightmare for the Rossoneri meant Serie A winners Inter were joined by Napoli, Roma and Como in next season’s Champions League.
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It is brilliant progress for a team which returned to Serie A for the first time in 21 years when they were promoted in 2024.
Fabregas had been assist and caretaker manager in Serie B and now he leads the club in Italy’s top flight, he has regularly been linked with a move to bigger clubs elsewhere.
However, he says he is in no rush to leave, aware that he has a level of control at Como that is very unlikely to be replicated anywhere else.
‘I always say that I had to make many decisions here, because I was practically given the keys to the football side of things, and there was practically nothing when we started,’ he said.
‘I was talking to two physios today who were with us four years ago when I came, we didn’t have a training ground, so we’d do massages on tables in the back room of a bar! Now, we are in the Champions League!
‘It is my second year and a half as a coach, so thanks to the staff for the way they push and inspire me, and understand me.
‘I realise I’m tough to deal with at times, but this is my life, always trying to do more. I have grown so much in this experience.
‘It has been like going to a football university every day, because I had to make so many decisions. The day I do leave here, I will become just a coach.’
The former Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder added: ‘I am very happy here, so it’s true that timing is important, but I am very happy with what we are doing here.
‘We always want more, don’t we? Life is long, I just turned 39 a couple of weeks ago, as Jose Mourinho said, there’s a long way to go until I reach 80, that’s 40 years of work.
‘You mustn’t be in a hurry in your work, you’ve got to have patience and keep learning. When one day you feel ready, you might make the step up.
‘In any case, Como have made the step up, because they are in the Champions League.’
Fabregas spoke emotionally with his players on the pitch after they heard AC Milan had lost, saying: ‘I told you the day before Parma, we win the two games we are in the Champions League. I had a feeling, I always respond to my feelings.
‘But guys, this is all up to you, this is all thanks to every one of you. You are the reason this is so f***ing beautiful. I thank you for all my life because this is probably the best group I will ever coach in my future.
‘I have no doubt you will be remembered forever.’
Como’s owners are Indonesian conglomerate Djarum Group, making them the richest club in Italy, so it is not entirely a great underdog story.
However, their star performers this season are not household names, with Nico Paz, Anastasios Douvikas and captain Lucas Da Cunha among the key men.