Inter Milan vs Como: Fabregas's missed opportunity with Inter

Coach Cesc Fabregas has been outperformed by his counterpart Cristian Chivu in all three encounters between Como and Inter this season, with two losses and one draw. This Italian Cup semifinal return leg is his last opportunity to reverse the situation.

The fact that Como faces Inter four times this season can be seen as a twist of fate deepening the story from June 2025, when Fabregas declined the position that Chivu now holds.

That was when coach Simone Inzaghi left Inter after the historic 0-5 defeat in the Champions League final. With pressure to find a coach quickly to prepare for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 just days later, Inter immediately approached Fabregas to bring in this young manager as Inzaghi's replacement. However, Como's leadership persuaded Fabregas to stay, leading Inter to shift focus to Patrick Vieira and ultimately finalize the appointment of Cristian Chivu, who had only a few months of coaching experience at Parma prior.

No one knows what would have happened at Inter if Fabregas had accepted then and Chivu never came into the picture, but it is certain that the blue-black striped team succeeded in the gamble considered risky with Chivu. From being doubted, the Romanian strategist gradually won over fans, turning Inter into a winning machine and counting down to becoming the second person in history to win the Scudetto both as a player and coach for Inter, 88 years after Armando Castellazzi (1938). Fabregas has also proven himself an excellent captain by bringing Como into the top tier of Serie A, but his clear inferiority in tactical battles with Chivu shows he still has much to learn.

Currently, both young strategists stand before historic opportunities, and they need victory in tonight's clash to achieve them. Fabregas is the first coach to bring Como to the Italian Cup semifinal in exactly 40 years since the only previous time (1985-86 season), and would be the first coach in history to lead this club to the final if he defeats Inter. Meanwhile, Chivu must beat Como tonight to keep his chance of becoming the first coach in Inter's history to win both Serie A and the Italian Cup as both a player and a coach. Success in the Italian Cup would be a meaningful reward for either Inter or Como after a satisfactory Serie A campaign.

The first leg was a dull 0-0 draw at Como's stadium, with both teams prioritizing Serie A more. Tonight's return leg will certainly be different, as there is no room for another draw. The goal of reaching the final will drive attacking play from both sides. Inter is flourishing with 11 goals in just their last three matches, including four against Como in the impressive 4-3 comeback victory nine days ago. However, Como still scoring three goals against Inter despite their recent slump shows they have the capability to surprise.