According to a report by Daily Post on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Como manager Cesc Fabregas has admitted that he instructed his players to reduce their intensity after establishing a commanding 4-0 lead against Manchester United in the Champions League.

Como recorded an emphatic 4-1 victory over the Premier League side, with Nico Paz playing a decisive role by scoring twice and providing an assist for Anastasios Douvikas.

Jacobo Ramon extended Como’s advantage in the 76th minute, putting the Italian side four goals ahead and leaving Manchester United with a difficult task. However, Fabregas subsequently instructed his players to slow the tempo as they looked to manage their advantage and preserve energy for their next fixture.

Speaking after the match, the Spanish coach admitted that his decision contributed to a less convincing finish, as United managed to score a late consolation goal through Joshua Zirkzee.

“I regret the last ten minutes because I was the one who told the team to slow down the tempo because there’s another match and at 4-0 we could manage things a little,” Fabregas said.

The Como manager explained that the demanding fixture schedule influenced his decision to reduce the team’s intensity rather than continue attacking with the same aggression despite their substantial lead.

Nevertheless, conceding late in the match meant Como missed the opportunity to secure a clean sheet, even though United’s goal did little to change the outcome.

Paz was among the standout performers, registering three direct goal contributions through his two goals and assist. His display underlined the attacking threat Como possessed throughout the encounter and helped the hosts secure an impressive result against their more illustrious opponents.

For Manchester United, the heavy defeat represents another setback and raises concerns about their defensive organisation and ability to contain opponents who attack with pace and confidence.

Despite the late concession, Fabregas has plenty of reasons to be encouraged by his team’s overall performance. Como demonstrated their attacking quality and ability to punish defensive weaknesses, while the manager’s post-match comments revealed his desire to balance winning convincingly with managing his players’ workload.

The result will give Como confidence going forward, while Manchester United must address their shortcomings if they are to recover from another disappointing European night.