Fabregas gives Como updates on Nico Paz injury and Matic talks | OneFootball

Cesc Fabregas gives an injury update on Nico Paz and confirms he ‘spoke to’ Nemanja Matic, but is again frustrated by Como finishing after a 1-1 draw with 10-man Lazio.

This is certainly an improvement considering Como lost 5-1 to Lazio when these sides met in October 2024, as tonight they had more possession, shots and a better Expected Goals score.

“It is the story of our season, we create so much and need to convert more chances into goals. We are missing a lot of points because of that. We are improving defensively, I saw a strong character from my team to come here and play like this,” Fabregas told DAZN.

“We must remember that we lost 5-1 to this team at home, so to put this performance in was impressive. At the same time, we are angry because with a performance like that, we deserved three points.”

It was a tense affair at the Stadio Olimpico, as the visitors wasted some early opportunities and saw Nico Paz carried off with an ankle injury following the Samuel Gigot lunge that was not even given as a free kick.

“It doesn’t look good, Nico Paz’s ankle turned and it has already swollen up a lot. We’ll have to wait and see,” confirmed Fabregas.

Fabregas frustrated by wasteful Como

ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 10: Patrick Cutrone of Como scores the a goal during the Serie match between Lazio and Como at Stadio Olimpico on January 10, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Boulaye Dia put Lazio in front with a curling finish, but after Luca Pellegrini risked a second yellow card and Loum Tchaouna was sent off moments later, Patrick Cutrone snatched a point with his diving header on Gabriel Strefezza’s cross.

“Apart from scoring goals, and we had so many chances, we should’ve lowered the tempo a little in the final 20 minutes, but this is a young team and lacked a little maturity to move the ball around, force Lazio out of position,” continued Fabregas.

“It is a process, I cannot expect young lads to know all this straight away, many were in Serie B last season too. They are learning all the time and that is my job as coach to help them do that.”

Como also gave debuts this evening to January signings Jean Butez and Assane Diao, although many more reinforcements are expected in this transfer window, such as Lyon’s Nemanja Matic.

“I thought Butez did very well, although he was a little nervous in the beginning, so that is natural not knowing his teammates well yet.

“Diao struggled a little because he had to come on without a warm-up, but we changed a few things after the break and he did much better. He has the kind of power that we were lacking last season too, who can give us something a little different.

“Yes, I spoke to Nemanja, he is a friend of mine, but so far it is only a chat. It is not easy to get these transfers, but we’ll see how the window goes over the next three weeks,” concluded Fabregas.

“The team is giving everything it has, Dossena had a swollen ankle and played anyway, so I cannot ask for more from these lads.”