Headline: Napoli’s Allegri Prepares for Como Match, Downplays Fabregas Tensions and Future Transfers
Napoli coach Massimiliano Allegri addressed the media ahead of the home fixture against Como, highlighting his team’s readiness for the match while acknowledging past tensions with Como’s Cesc Fabregas. During the press conference, Allegri stated, “It’s the first at home. It will be exciting in our stadium and with our fans.” He described Como as a well-organized team that has achieved remarkable success, including their Champions League qualification.
Allegri emphasized the need for a strong performance, noting, “We’ll need a good game to get a result. In this phase, fitness levels are not ideal; temperatures are still high, and it will be important to maintain good technique and be smart.” The coach also reflected on the previous season’s clashes with Fabregas, who openly criticized Allegri’s playing style. “Tension leads to arguments, but that’s it. No problem. Allegri doesn’t play Fabregas tomorrow, but Napoli-Como,” he stated.
Allegri praised Fabregas as a promising talent among young coaches and showcased confidence in his current squad. Napoli recently secured a 2-0 victory against Genoa, with substitutes Antonio Vergara and Kevin De Bruyne making a notable impact. When asked about their potential starting positions for the upcoming match, he replied, “I haven’t decided yet. It’s not guaranteed that all games will be won once Vergara and De Bruyne are introduced.”
Looking ahead, Napoli will embark on their 2026-27 Champions League journey against Arsenal at home. Allegri remarked, “If we win, it’s all downhill; if not, it goes uphill. It depends on the results.” He acknowledged the challenge of facing tactically disciplined teams in Europe and urged his players to approach each match with desire and composure.
As the transfer window nears its end, Allegri expressed contentment with his roster, citing recent signings like Benoît Badiashile from Chelsea and Costantino Favasuli. He is cautious about further additions, stating, “It would make no sense to add players who don’t raise the team’s technical level. I’m happy, so we keep working with these players.” According to Allegri, Badiashile is still catching up after limited training with Chelsea and requires time to integrate into the team.
Napoli’s next challenge is the Serie A encounter against Como, where Allegri aims to build on the team’s recent success and maintain momentum in the league.
Napoli coach Massimiliano Allegri downplays tensions with Cesc Fabregas, admits Benoît Badiashile is ‘a bit behind’ after his move from Chelsea and hints that he might not need new signings: ‘It would make no sense to add players who don’t raise the team’s technical level.’
Allegri previewed Napoli’s home game against Como at a press conference on Saturday.
GENOA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of Napoli before the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on August 22, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
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Napoli vs. Como – Allegri’s pre-match press conference
“It’s the first at home. It will be exciting in our stadium and with our fans,” Allegri said via TuttoNapoli.
“We face a Como side that has done extraordinary things. They are the new reality of Italian football for what they’ve done and the qualification [to the Champions League] they obtained.
“They are well organised and have good technique. We’ll need a good game to get a result. In this phase, fitness levels are not ideal; temperatures are still high, and it will be important to maintain good technique and be smart.”
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Safe to say Allegri and Fabregas didn’t really get along last season, as the pair clashed after a Serie A match between Allegri’s Milan and Como, weeks after Fabregas had criticised the Rossoneri’s playing style.
“Tension leads to arguments, but that’s it. No problem. Allegri doesn’t play Fabregas tomorrow, but Napoli-Como,” Allegri said.
UDINE, ITALY – AUGUST 22: Cesc Fabregas, Como manager, looks on during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Como 1907 at Stadio Friuli on August 22, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
“He [Fabregas] is someone who truly promises very well; he has already achieved excellent results. Like him, there are many other young coaches who can do well, foreign but also Italian.”
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Napoli beat Genoa 2-0 away last weekend with goals coming from substitutes Antonio Vergara and Kevin De Bruyne. Do they have a chance to start tomorrow?
“I haven’t decided yet. It’s not guaranteed that all games will be won once Vergara and De Bruyne are introduced,” Allegri said.
“Every game is different, and we have to handle different moments.”
Napoli will begin their 2026-27 Champions League campaign at home against Arsenal.
“If we win, it’s all downhill; if not, it goes uphill. It depends on the results. It was difficult to win in Genoa as well; we face every game with desire and serenity,” Allegri said.
CARDIFF, WALES – AUGUST 16: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the 2026 FA Community Shield match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Principality Stadium on August 16, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
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“In Europe, all the matches are difficult; there are no easy teams. Teams are organised tactically and physically. Then it depends on what moments of the league phase you take them at. We start with Arsenal; you live to play these matches, but we will have time to think about it.”
Lastly, the Italian tactician spoke about Napoli’s potential moves in the final days of the summer transfer window.
So far, the Partenopei have been fairly quiet, having only signed Costantino Favasuli from Serie B side Benevento and Badiashile on loan from Chelsea.
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 30: Benoit Badiashile of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Chelsea FC and SL Benfica at Stamford Bridge on September 30, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
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“I’m happy with the team I have at my disposal, as I said last week,” Allegri insisted.
“We have problems with the lists, and someone will have to remain out. It would make no sense to add players who don’t raise the team’s technical level. I’m happy, so we keep working with these players. Badiashile is a bit behind; he has trained little with the team at Chelsea and needs some time, but we are only at the beginning, and we need to think about the match against Como.”
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