Cesc Fabregas has made clear why Como are rotating against Torino, saying the club simply cannot ask players to go again 66 hours after their last match. With the Torino FC vs Como 1907 standings now part of a busy stretch before the next international break, the message from the Como manager is that squad management has become as important as form.
Como arrive in Turin after a demanding spell that has already included a 3-1 away win at Fiorentina on October 18, a 4-1 victory over Manchester United in the Champions League last week, and a 2-0 Serie A win over Sassuolo on Saturday. That run has put the squad in a strong position, but it has also forced Fabregas to think carefully about who can start and who needs to be protected.
He said the point of rotation was not just to rest players, but to keep everyone involved and ready to contribute. Fabregas explained that his idea is to make a lot of changes and make everyone feel important, while also accepting that not every player will welcome that approach in the same way.
Fabregas: some players accept rotation more quickly than others
“For them, the big challenge is understanding that sometimes you will play and sometimes you won’t, but that you always have to give everything for the team,” Fabregas said. “Right now, some understand that less than others, but slowly they are also beginning to understand that you can’t play 66 hours after the last game.”
That is the central issue for Como now. Fabregas is not only trying to keep the team fresh, he is also trying to build a culture in which the whole squad accepts that selection will shift from game to game. In a season with four games left before the next international break, that kind of buy-in matters just as much as tactical detail.
Why the Torino fixture matters
Torino are not coming into this in poor form. The team under Ignazio Abate had recorded three consecutive victories, which makes the test at the Stadio Olimpico Grande a serious one for Como even with their recent momentum.
Fabregas was also keen to recognise the work of Abate, describing him as a tough player and praising the way his team reflects that same spirit. He said Torino represent self-sacrifice and hard work for each other, and added that their team has improved since last year.
There was also a clear nod to Maxence Caqueret, who had originally been left off Como's UEFA squad list at the beginning of the season but has started all three of the last matches. Fabregas said Caqueret reflects what today’s football is all about: staying quiet, working hard, showing expertise and proving to the coach that he is ready to play.
For Como, the wider message is straightforward. This is not only about surviving a packed schedule. It is about making sure the squad stays connected through it, with results and rotation both part of the same plan.
