Fabregas admits Como may field only 16-17 players in Champions League due to squad limits
Quick summary
Como head coach Cesc Fabregas has revealed the club may only have 16-17 available players for Champions League matches due to registration limits and squad size constraints.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceCesc Fabregas warns Como could be forced to play the Champions League with ‘a squad of 16-17 players’ due to their limitations, but welcomes new signings Mattia Liberali, Luis Milla and Kaiki.
The Lariani were in Serie B just two years ago, but now find themselves preparing for the biggest competition in club football after finishing fourth in Serie A last season.
This sudden ascendancy has caught them a little off guard, and means that there will be some strict limits on just who can play in the Champions League.
Fabregas and Como have limited options UDINE, ITALY – APRIL 06: Como manager Cesc Fabregas reacts during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Como 1907 at Stadio Friuli on April 06, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images) “We have the UEFA list limits, so because we don’t yet have a youth academy capable of providing certain things, we’ll find ourselves in the Champions League with only a squad of 16-17 players,” said Fabregas in a press conference.
“This is why we must build our players. It’s a process that takes time and cannot be completed in two or three years.”
Como famously had only one Italian in the squad last season and he played in Serie A for just one minute, so that is another potential problem when it comes to providing homegrown figures.
UDINE, ITALY – APRIL 06: Como manager Cesc Fabregas looks on during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Como 1907 at Stadio Friuli on April 06, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images) Meanwhile, they brought one in by buying Italy Under-21 international Liberali from Catanzaro , formerly from the Milan youth academy.
“Liberali called me a few days before the start of pre-season training, because he wanted to be with us from the beginning,” continued Fabregas.
“He showed great determination and quickly assimilated our ideas. He will play tomorrow. He can be used as a trequartista, but also a False 9.”
Como are hosting the Como Cup, a summer tournament at the Stadio Sinigaglia with Crystal Palace, RC Lens, Famalicao, Villarreal and Al-Ula.
More new signings this summer were welcomed by Fabregas to the side.
“We knew that Alberto Moreno and Sergi Roberto would leave, but we managed to replace them quickly. Kaiki arrived to replace Moreno, while Luis Milla is a profile we’d been tracking since January.
“Milla has character, he’s a leader, one of those who can bring balance and organisation to a team. I really like how aggressive Kaiki is when defending, he doesn’t hold back, but we’re asking for something different on the ball and working with him on that.”
Nico Paz was in the Argentina squad that finished fourth at the 2026 World Cup, so is on extended vacation along with Assane Diao and Martin Baturina.
COMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Como 1907 coach Cesc Fabregas looks o during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and US Lecce at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) “These are young lads with a lot of quality, but the more expectations grow around them, so does the pressure. It’s a normal process and we must support them in that,” added Fabregas.
“Nico Paz will return on August 17, I don’t think he’ll play against Liverpool, but I might change my mind.”
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What happened
Cesc Fabregas, manager of Como, has publicly acknowledged that the club faces significant squad depth issues ahead of their Champions League campaign. Registration rules and the club's limited roster mean Como could be forced to play European matches with as few as 16-17 players available. This raises serious concerns about fatigue, injury risk, and competitiveness across a demanding schedule. The comments highlight the financial and structural challenges facing the newly-promoted Italian side as they balance domestic and European commitments.
Chance analysis
Squad depth is one of the most decisive factors in European competition success, and Como's openly stated thinness of 16-17 players signals major vulnerability over a long campaign. Fatigue, injury accumulation, and limited rotation options could significantly hamper their competitiveness, particularly in later stages. For prediction systems, this is a structural negative for Como's Champions League prospects, potentially affecting their ability to maintain performance levels across congested fixture periods.
Como's thin squad depth will likely hurt their Champions League competitiveness due to limited rotation, increasing fatigue and injury risk across the campaign.
Como's limited squad depth (16-17 players) is a significant structural negative for their Champions League performance, increasing fatigue and injury risk across the campaign.