Cesc Fabregas said, "I don't believe in crises", when asked about Manchester United's recent form ahead of Como's Champions League clash with Michael Carrick's side. 

The Serie A side welcome the Red Devils to the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Wednesday, with both clubs enduring different starts to their respective campaigns in 2026-27. 

Como are fifth in Serie A with 14 points from their opening seven games, while they also marked their Champions League debut with a 4-1 thrashing of RB Leipzig on MD1. 

After then losing to Feyenoord in Europe last week, Como responded with a 3-1 win away to Fiorentina in the league. For United, however, things have gone from bad to worse. 

Following a 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Sunday, Carrick's men have won just one of their seven Premier League matches this season (D4 L2), their fewest number of victories at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1986-87 – also one victory after seven games.

In addition, they are without a win since the first match of their Champions League campaign, when they beat Azerbaijani minnows Sabah, with MD2 seeing them fall to a 2-0 defeat against last year's semi-finalists, Atletico Madrid. 

After that loss in the Spanish capital, defender Lisandro Martinez launched a scathing review of the club's hierarchy, saying United did not have a squad capable of competing in Europe and pointed the blame towards technical director Jason Wilcox and the club's owners. 

Fabregas, however, refused to say the club was in crisis, telling reporters: "I don't believe in crises in football.

"You have a game every three days, it's 11 against 11, and you've got to give your best.

"A crisis is invented by you journalists, but we are professionals; we've wanted to compete since the day we were born. I don't believe in any crisis."

Getting ready for @ChampionsLeague night at the Sinigaglia https://t.co/Ez9QowxJaB

— Como1907 (@Como_1907) October 20, 2026

This will be the first meeting between Como and United – since the start of last season, the six matches between Italian and English sides in the Champions League have been won by the Premier League outfit on five occasions (L1 – Atalanta 2-1 Chelsea the exception).

Como are looking to become the first Italian side since Lazio in 1999-00 to win their first two home games in the European Cup/Champions League. 

It's a match that will see Fabregas and Carrick face each other as opposition managers, 17 years after playing on opposing sides in both legs of the 2008-09 Champions League semi-finals, between Arsenal and United (won 4-1 on aggregate by the Red Devils).

"It is another historic day for the club, the fans and the city," Fabregas added. "We've got to play with focus and ambition.

"This is Manchester United we are up against, so let's enjoy it, play our game and try to win. It's an incredible group of players.

"We must be humble and realise there is much to learn. We'll see how it goes, but respect our opponents.

"There are different ways of attacking; we try to study their weaknesses, but also don’t forget what we do best.

"They have a specific system and principles, but football is ultimately about the players. We tend to forget that, as directors and coaching staff."