Cesc Fabregas’s Como clinched a place in European competition next season with a 1-0 victory against Hellas Verona.
Having been promoted to Serie A two years ago, Fabregas has successfully guided the team to secure at least a spot in the Conference League, positioning them sixth in the table, 10 points clear of seventh-placed Atalanta, who will be facing Milan in the late match.
Como is now in a tight race with Roma, Milan, and Juventus for the two remaining Champions League spots, following the champions Inter and second-placed Napoli, who host Bologna on Monday night.
Como had the upper hand in possession during the match at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi but broke the deadlock in the 71st minute when striker Anastasios Douvikas netted his 13th goal of the season.
In an interview with DAZN, Fabregas expressed his delight, saying, “I am very happy and proud today. Two years ago, we achieved promotion to Serie A, and now we are qualifying for Europe. The team, the club, and the fans have all evolved; it’s remarkable, and this day will be remembered for years to come.”
“In today’s world, everything is so fast-paced with social media, and there is a lot of pressure. We need to relish these moments. I can’t recall how many trophies I’ve won, but I’m looking forward to more ahead.”
“With two matches remaining, we’ll see if we can aim even higher.”
Como’s last two fixtures of the season are against Parma at home and Jamie Vardy’s Cremonese on the final day of the season.
Fabregas has secured a European spot for Como, but there is still a chance they could qualify for the Champions League as the season comes to an exciting close.