Fabregas and the bitter Gamper night

Cesc Fabregas and Como were defeated 0-5 in their first return to face Barca as coaches. But after the bitterness, the young coach understood that the biggest lessons sometimes come from the hardest moments to swallow.

Cesc Fabregas suffered a heavy defeat against Barcelona.

This year's Joan Gamper Trophy ended with a scenario that had few surprises in terms of score but many emotions in terms of people. Barcelona beat Como 1907 5-0, the exact difference between a giant accustomed to glory and a Serie A rookie who had just returned to the top after more than 20 years.

But the story doesn't stop at the numbers. On the losing team's bench is Cesc Fabregas, who once wore the red and blue shirt with great pride, now returning to face his old home in a new role.

Lose big but not lose value

For many, 0-5 was a crushing defeat. For Como, it was a painful lesson in the difference at the highest level. Hansi Flick’s Barca – a team all too familiar with the rhythm and speed of Europe’s top teams – dominated from start to finish, scoring from every scenario: central combinations, long shots, and wing shots.

But for Fabregas, this match is not to measure strength with Barca, but to reflect on himself and his students. Como is in the process of defining his playing style, still lacking experience in moments that require alertness. To some extent, these 90 minutes are like a high-intensity practice session, where teachers and students must face the standards they want to aim for.

The image of Fabregas walking out of the Ciutat Esportiva tunnel made many Barca fans nostalgic. From a boy at La Masia, he became the leader of Arsenal, then returned to Camp Nou to win titles with Pep Guardiola, before adventures at Chelsea, Monaco and ending his playing career at Como.

Cesc Fabregas played for Barcelona as a player.

But in this match, Fabregas was no longer “of” Barca. His eyes were focused, his gestures were decisive, he completely took on the role of head coach - a true “challenger”. The pre-match buzz quickly gave way to the harsh reality on the pitch, where Fabregas’s team was caught up in the opponent’s pressing and passing speed.

Barca's silhouette in Como

Despite the heavy defeat, Fabregas’ Como still had a few moments that reminded him of Barca’s DNA – the short passing, the intent to control the ball. But when the quality of personnel and decision-making is limited, good ideas can sometimes turn into risks. Every bad pass in midfield against Barca is an invitation to danger, and Como paid the price.

However, it is important that Fabregas does not pursue overly pragmatic football to avoid heavy scores. He accepts to learn the game in a long-term direction, despite knowing the risks. It is the choice of someone who wants to build a foundation, not just seek immediate results.

Looking at Fabregas on the coaching bench today, it is hard to forget that he is also a family man. Married to Daniella Semaan - the "Lebanese goddess" 12 years older than him - Fabregas has gone through a love story full of noise and prejudice, but lasting over the years. The family of 5 children, 3 of whom are his children, is a peaceful place for him whenever he is away from the pressure of tactics and the scoreboard.

This 0-5 defeat certainly made Fabregas worried, but tonight, maybe he will return to the hotel, video call his children, listen to the laughter of Lia, Capri, Leonardo and remember why he still loves football: because it teaches him to be patient, to stand up after defeat.

Fabregas is not only an ambitious young coach but also a prudent investor. He has invested in SRHS (hotel-restaurant services), FC Andorra, plant-based meat company Heura, VR training platform Rezzil and metaverse project The Football Company.

When he arrived at Como, Fabregas also became a minority shareholder. Therefore, the defeat against Barca, from another perspective, is like a short-term loss in an investment portfolio: accepting risk in exchange for long-term profits.

Como learned a valuable lesson after losing to Barcelona.

Many Como fans will want to forget this match. But for Fabregas, it will stay in the memory, like the early defeats at Arsenal or the time Barca fell to Chelsea in the Champions League. Every defeat has value if you learn from it.

This year’s Joan Gamper Trophy is therefore not only the season debut for Barca, but also a milestone in Fabregas’ coaching journey. He returns to his old home, not to reminisce, but to prove that he is on a new path - a path that sometimes requires heavy defeat to grow.

Source: https://znews.vn/fabregas-va-dem-gamper-cay-dang-post1576011.html