HISTORIC UPSET: CESC FABREGAS LEADS COMO TO FIRST COPPA ITALIA SEMI-FINAL SINCE 1986
Como are through! Discover how Cesc Fabregas’ side beat Napoli on penalties to reach their first Coppa Italia semi-final in 40 years.
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Cesc Fabregas opened up about what he told his Como squad before they stepped up for penalties against Napoli. He’s been there; he knows what that pressure feels like.
Now Como gets Inter in the Coppa Italia semi-final. The last time Como made it this far, it was 1986. They knocked out Verona, who were Serie A champions. This time, they outlasted Napoli after a 1-1 draw at the Maradona, then held their nerve in the shootout.
Martin Baturina got Como in front, but Antonio Vergara pulled Napoli level just after halftime.
Honestly, Fabregas is dragging this team somewhere special.
It’s huge, it’s historic, but Fabregas isn’t letting anyone get carried away. “There’s another big game coming up. Save the celebrations for the end of the season,” he said.
It’s tough to come down from a night like that, though. They put on some music for ten minutes in the locker room, let it sink in, then flipped the switch. The weekend’s coming, and they want another win.
There was a nervy moment when Jacobo Ramon escaped a second yellow after fouling Rasmus Hojlund. Fabregas saw the risk and pulled him off right away.
“If he makes another foul, he’s off,” Fabregas said. “He’s only 20, still learning. First pro season. When you’re that young, you don’t feel pressure the same way, but sometimes you relax too much.”
He didn’t want to risk playing a man down.
The penalties had their drama. Lukaku missed, Butez stopped Lobotka, and Milinkovic-Savic came up big against Perrone.
Fabregas was honest about the performance. “We were good in the first half, not so much in the second. That keeps happening. We need to fix it.”
He liked that Como came out to attack, not just to cling on. They defended differently, dropping a little deeper because Napoli’s got talent and they can open you up if you’re too aggressive.
“To survive in Serie A, you need a striker like Hojlund,” Fabregas said. Napoli had their injury problems, but so did Como earlier in the year. The squad’s young, but they’re going for it.
At times, they switched to five at the back. Fabregas reminded everyone, “We’re Como, not a big club; we have to lock things down sometimes.”
Before the penalties, Fabregas told his players to soak it all in. Yeah, it was tense, but he wanted them to enjoy it.
“I thanked them for giving me this chance as a coach. Most of them had never faced something like this. I wanted them to believe in themselves, to enjoy it. I’ve been in Napoli’s shoes, the favourites. That brings its own fear. We were also lucky to go first in the shootout; that helped. I thanked them again; they gave everything. Besides Moreno, Morata, and Alberto, our average age is 22.”
Fabregas knows what’s next: stay humble, keep grinding. That’s three wins in a row for Como.
The semi-final is two legs.
On the other side, it’s Atalanta against either Bologna or Lazio.
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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