Fabregas congratulates Milan through gritted teeth: “We made 700 passes to their 200”

Cesc Fabregas gave credit to AC Milan after Thursday night’s game at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, but couldn’t fault Como’s performance.

Como started the game well on top and it looked like being a very different outcome when Marc-Oliver Kempf headed in a corner after 10 minutes. Mike Maignan then made a number of top drawer saves to keep his side in it, which paved the way for a comeback.

Christopher Nkunku converted a penalty just before the break, then Adrien Rabiot scored against the run of play early and late in the second half as the Rossoneri somehow escaped from their trip to the lake with three goals and three points.

‘That’s what they like in Italy’

Fabregas spoke to DAZN after the final whistle and once again provided some intriguing comments regarding how he viewed the performance and the result. Football Italia translated what he had to say.

“We lost and therefore we need to improve. We’ve got to try to do better next time and to win the game. We had one of the best defensive records in Europe before this game, every team has strengths and weaknesses. We can improve, but nobody is perfect.

“We congratulate Milan this evening, they won and therefore they’ve got the right to celebrate. I now have to focus on lifting the heads of my lads, whether we win or lose, we must always try to grow and improve.

Photos: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

“We have to work on mentality, as this is a young team. Usually I speak to the players right after the final whistle, but I couldn’t do it today. What can you say to lads who played like this and lost 3-1?

“It doesn’t happen often, Milan deserve credit for the game they played, bravo Maignan and Rabiot, sometimes you have to just tip your hat and say the individuals won it.

“We had studied Milan and knew a few areas where they could hurt us, and they did it on one of the situations we’d discussed. It hurts, obviously, but defeats help you to grow and we have real margin for improvement. It ended 3-1, so you have to look at the result, that’s what they like in Italy.”

To Sky, he added: “Maybe I’m misunderstood when I speak. It’s difficult to analyse today, it’s better if you do it. Today is difficult, we did many things well, it was a game we had to win, we dominated.

“We made 700 passes to their 200, incredible. It’s also true that you don’t win with possession, they are very good players who win with individual play. We did very well as a team.”