Fabregas Masterclass WON THE SERIE A PERFECT 4-2-3-1

CESC FABREGAS'S COMO 2025-26 TACTICAL MASTERCLASS IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 2026

Hi guys, today I am going to showcase my emulation of Cesc Fabregas's Como tactic 2025-26. Since Como 4-2-3-1 is very flexible in possession and attacking and players roles and tasks can variate during the same match, I created two tactics for FM 26 and two for FM 24.
Let's see the tactical analyisis of Fabregas's Como in this season

TACTICAL ANALYSIS: CESC FABREGAS’S COMO 2025-26


Cesc Fàbregas, drawing influence from tactical masters like Pep Guardiola (for the tiki-taka philosophy and tactical framework) and Arsène Wenger (for vision and technical precision), has molded Como into a modern, ambitious side. Coming off a promising tenth-place finish, the Lariani are now targeting European qualification, bolstered by significant new signings such as Morata, Perrone, and Jacobo Ramon. Fàbregas' approach is defined by possession-based football and vertical penetration. While the 1-4-2-3-1 serves as the Base Formation, Como's defining characteristic is their extreme tactical fluidity and interchangeability of roles across all phases of play.

In Possession Phase: thoughtful possession and mobility


Como favors patient and thoughtful possession, adhering to key principles such as offensive staggering, penetration, width, mobility, and unpredictability.

1. Build-up and Positional Rotations

The build-up phase is critical, featuring strategic rotations:

Goalkeeper as Playmaker: the goalkeeper Butez is actively involved, acting as a deep-lying playmaker to draw pressure and free up a teammate.

Flexible Double Pivot: One of the two central midfielders in the double pivot often drops deeper and wide, shifting laterally. When a full-back advances, the covering pivot moves wide to fill the space, maintaining a defensive line of four and ensuring defensive stability in transition.

Three-Man Backline Alternative: Alternatively, the pivot drops between the two center-backs, creating a temporary back-three that allows both full-backs to push high simultaneously.

In both scenarios, the pivot links the defense to the attacking midfielders. The winger on the weak side narrows into the center, ensuring numerical superiority in the central areas and effectively occupying the half-spaces.

2. Overcoming pressure

Against High Press: The team typically offloads the ball laterally to the full-backs to bypass the first line of pressure.

Against Low Block: Como deliberately plays the ball between the goalkeeper and center-backs to invite the opponent's press, creating gaps between the attack and midfield that can be exploited with quick vertical breaks.

3. Attack and penetration

Once the maneuver is consolidated, Como immediately seeks offensive depth through central channels, using through balls to reward the runs of the striker, the number 10, and the wingers.

Central Overloads: Combinations and exchanges in tight spaces in the attacking third are common. The two pivots push high to screen against potential counter-attacks, effectively overloading the attacking zone.

Progressive Play: Como excels in progressive passing, and the continuous runs from midfielders force the opponent's defensive line to drop deeper, creating more space for shots outside the box.

Finishing Quality: The final third is managed by high-quality attacking players, including Nico Paz (key playmaker, excellent dribbler and set-piece specialist), Diao, and Jesus Rodriguez. They are supported by overlapping full-backs to create numerical superiority on the wings via dribbling, triangulations, and cutting runs, forcing the opposition defense to shift.

Goal Scoring Methods: Finishing methods include deep passes to exploit the mobility of the striker, particularly Morata, central triangulations, outside shots, and packing the box to receive low crosses and cut-backs.

Out of Possession Phase: gegenpressing and compactness

In the defensive phase, Como demonstrates organization based on immediate, man-to-man counter-pressing and a compact shape, primarily operating in a 4-4-2 (or variants).

1. Pressing strategy and data

The goal is to force the play wide and then activate the press:

First Line of Pressure: The Number 10, Nico Paz, steps up to join the center-forward, forming a pressing line of two.

Aggressive Wingers: The central midfielders drop back, while the wingers are aggressive in pressing out wide. If the opponent uses a deep central midfielder (pivot), one of Como's central midfielders moves to block them and close passing lanes. The winger on the far side narrows to maintain central compactness.

Performance Metrics: Como's aggression is confirmed by statistics: they ranked fifth for PPDA (Passes Per Defensive Action) and third for Challenge Intensity in the last Serie A season, indicating an intense, high press. The relatively low number of interceptions confirms Fàbregas' preference for aggressive man-to-man competition for possession over passive screening.

2. Transitions and defensive line

Immediate Recovery: Ball recovery is instantaneous; the nearest player presses the ball carrier while teammates close passing lanes, maintaining a very high center of gravity. Only in highly defensive situations or when protecting a lead does the team switch from the 4-4-2 to a 5-3-2 block.

Defensive Stability: The defensive line remains short and well-organized, especially on the flanks with tight defensive diagonals.

Proactive Defense: The two center-backs are given license to step out in a 1v1 to break the line and initiate a positive transition.

Vulnerability in Negative Transitions: A key vulnerability for Como lies in negative transitions: the defense often lacks the propensity to track back quickly, leaving excessive space behind the center-backs. The two central defensive midfielders drop deep to screen the defense, often using the principle of preventive marking against fast counter-attacks.

Now we can see how to create this tactic (with 2 variations ) in Football Manager 2026 in this guide:

CESC FABREGAS’S COMO 2025-26 IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 2026

It is practically impossible to reproduce all the endless tactical solutions of Fabregas’ Como in a single tactic in Football Manager 2026, also because Como change shape during the same match depending on how the opponent defends and presses. When building from the back, Como can line up in a 1-2-4-4 (with goalkeeper Butez and the two centre-backs involved in the build-up and the two full-backs Valle and Posch high on the line of the asymmetrical holding midfielders, with Perrone deeper than Da Cunha), in a 1-3-3-4 with one of the full-backs, usually Posch on the right, inverting and tucking inside while the other, Valle, stays high and wide almost on the halfway line, or again with Perrone dropping between the two centre-backs, freeing space for the full-backs who act as wide wingers. For this reason, it is necessary to create at least two tactics: one that mirrors the central build-up with the two inverted full-backs acting as additional midfielders and the two wingers starting wide (only initially, since they drive inside when in possession), and another that mirrors the build-up with three centre-backs (plus the goalkeeper) with the holding midfielder dropping between the two centre-backs and freeing the full-backs to push high and wide. Naturally, the in-possession instructions differ between the two tactics, as do the players’ roles, while the out-of-possession phase is practically unchanged.​

So let’s look at the first tactic, based on central combination play. The team mentality is Positive because Fabregas wants to control the game and dictate the tempo.​

Tactic no. 1​

Player roles and instructions​


Goalkeeper: Jean Butez​

Role in possession: Ball playing Goalkeeper

Role out of possession: Sweeper keeper​

Instructions: none​

Butez is involved in the build-up from the back and mainly plays the ball to the two centre-backs. If the opponent presses high and closes all passing lanes, he can occasionally attempt a long ball towards the striker; if instead the opposition sit deep, Butez and the two centre-backs recycle possession between them, trying to lure the press.​

Right-back: Stefan Posch​

Role in possession: Inside wing-back, acting as an additional holding midfielder​

Instructions: Make More Runs

Role out of possession: Pressing Full-back

Instructions: mark tighter​

Left-back: Alex Valle​

Role in possession: Inside wing-back, acting as an additional holding midfielder​

Instructions: Make More Runs

Role out of possession: Pressing Full-back

Instructions: mark tighter​

Posch and Valle can change their positions during the same match: sometimes they behave like inverted full-backs, moving alongside the two holding midfielders to create numerical superiority in midfield, while in other situations they stay high and wide (with Valle higher than Posch), overlapping on the wings and trying to create 2 v 1 situations together with the wingers Jesus Rodriguez and Diao against the opposition full-backs.​

Right centre-back: Diego Carlos​

Role in possession: Central defender

Instructions: stay wider​

Role out of possession: Central defender

Instructions: trigger press more often​

Diego Carlos is an excellent defender inside the box, strong in tackling and marking. However, when he pushes too far out to follow his man, he often gets caught out of position, as seen in the 4–0 defeat against Inter, where Inter’s forwards repeatedly attacked the space behind him and one of the goals came exactly from this kind of situation. For this reason, in Football Manager he is used as a standard central defender both in and out of possession, avoiding asking him to step out too aggressively. In possession he positions himself alongside the goalkeeper to help the build-up and occupy the space left by the right-back pushing forward.​

Left centre-back: Jacob Ramon​

Role in possession: Ball-playing Center-back

Instructions: stay wider, dribble more​

Role out of possession: Stopping Center Back

Instructions: mark tighter​

Unlike Diego Carlos, Ramon is more proactive during the build-up, pulling wide to the left of the goalkeeper to offer a passing option and cover the space left by the advancing left-back, and he also carries the ball forward. Out of possession he behaves like a stopper, stepping out to press his direct opponent and marking more tightly.​

Right defensive midfielder: Maximo Perrone​

Role in possession: Deep-lying playmaker

Instructions: stay wider​

Role out of possession: Pressing Defensive Midfielder

Instructions: mark tighter​

Perrone is the team’s main playmaker; he often drops deep to help in the build-up and, when the right-back pushes forward, he drifts wide to cover the space on that flank. Out of possession both Perrone and Da Cunha press high to lock the ball in the opposition half.​

Left defensive midfielder: Da Cunha​

Role in possession: Box to Box Playmaker

Instructions: move into channels, dribble more, take more risks​

Role out of possession: Pressing Defensive Midfielder

Instructions: mark tighter​

Da Cunha plays higher than Perrone and this asymmetry between the two holding midfielders allows better coverage of central spaces and makes it harder for opponents to decide who to press. He acts as a roaming playmaker in the build-up, offering support to his teammates and, as the move progresses into the final third, he bursts forward, often arriving in the box. Defensively, like Perrone, he presses high to break up opposition moves at source.​

Central midfielder: Nico Paz​

Role in possession: Advanced playmaker ​

Instructions: make more runs, roam from position​

Role out of possession: Tracking Centre Forward

Instructions: Trigger press more often, mark tighter​

Nico Paz wears the number 10 shirt and is Como’s most talented player and, together with Juventus’ Yildiz, perhaps one of the most gifted in Serie A. Real Madrid will probably bring him back to Spain next season by activating the buy-back clause. In Fabregas’ Como, Paz enjoys great freedom: he loves having the ball at his feet and often drops as deep as the centre circle, demanding the ball from the holding midfielders before driving forward and dictating the attacking play. In the final third he roams a lot, frequently shooting from distance and making late runs into the box, exploiting the space created by the striker’s movements (Morata dropping off). To reproduce his movements in Football Manager 2026, a compromise is necessary: if Paz is deployed as an attacking midfielder behind the striker, he will rarely drop back to receive from the holding midfielders and will instead stay between the lines, mainly making runs into the box and swapping positions with Morata and the wingers. Placing him as a central midfielder with a creative role (advanced playmaker) and the instruction to get further forward replicates his late runs into the box, while roam from position gives him the freedom to express his talent. In the defensive phase, Paz steps up alongside the striker to form the first pressing line; therefore, out of possession his role becomes that of a defensive forward with instructions to press more often and mark tighter, mirroring Fabregas’ man-oriented pressing.​

Right winger: Assane Diao​

Role in possession: Inside Forward

Instructions: stay wider, dribble more, roam from position, cut inside with ball​

Role out of possession: Tracking Wide Midfielder

Instructions: Trigger press more often, mark tighter​

Left winger: Jesus Rodriguez​

Role in possession: Inside Forward

Instructions: stay wider, dribble more, roam from position, cut inside with ball​

Role out of possession: Tracking Wide Midfielder

Instructions: Trigger press more often, mark tighter​​

The two attacking wide players in Fabregas’ Como change their position depending on the full-backs. If the full-backs tuck inside, the wingers provide width by hugging the touchline; if the full-backs stay wide, the wingers move inside, creating numerical superiority in the central zones of the final third. In any case, once in possession, Rodriguez and Diao tend to cut inside and exploit their dribbling, or, off the ball, they attack the half-spaces between the opposition centre-back and full-back, often aided by overlapping full-backs. In this Football Manager tactic, the role of wide forward in the half-space has been chosen, even though the full-backs are inverted, precisely to replicate their constant movements into pockets of space and confuse the defence. To guarantee width, the instruction stay wider is used so that, at the start of moves, they hold a wide position. This compromise mirrors Rodriguez and Diao’s style more faithfully than the more traditional winger role. Out of possession they drop back onto the midfield line (still pressing high and with tight marking) to stay close to the advancing full-backs, keeping two very compact lines and avoiding giving opponents dangerous gaps.​

Striker: Alvaro Morata​

Role in possession: Deep-lying forward

Instructions: roam from position, move into channels​

Role out of possession: Tracking Centre Forward

Instructions: Trigger press more often, mark tighter​

Morata is extremely good at linking the team’s attacking play; by dropping off he opens up spaces for teammates making runs into the box. He is not a prolific goalscorer (and probably never has been) but he is an excellent creator of attacking play, which is why the deep-lying forward role is perfect for him. Out of possession, together with Nico Paz, he leads the first pressing line of Fabregas’ compact 4-4-2 defensive shape.​

Now for the team instructions for this first tactic.​

In-possession team instructions​

Passing: shorter

Short passing in the build-up is a hallmark of the Catalan coach’s game, allowing the team to keep possession without taking excessive risks.

Tempo: lower. The side look to slow the tempo and keep the ball.

Attacking width: much narrower, to create numerical superiority and overload central areas.

Attacking transition: hold shape. Once Como regain the ball, they do not immediately counter-attack but try to construct moves calmly to avoid risky turnovers.

Freedom of movement: be more expressive, giving more freedom to the most talented players.

Dribbling: dribble more, to exploit the 1v1 ability of Nico Paz, Diao and Rodriguez.

Crosses: low crosses, looking for cutbacks and low passes into the box, given the absence of a dominant aerial striker, and to exploit late runs from deeper players.

Support movements: underlaps through the channels, as the inverted full-backs and wingers overloading the middle make it easier to exploit through balls in these zones.

Pass into spaces: this instruction helps make the most of forward runs from midfielders who position themselves between the lines.

Focus play: through the middle, as Como try to force play centrally and only switch to the flanks when central routes are blocked.

Build-up: play throung press: play out of the defence and invite the press, with goalkeeper and centre-backs exchanging passes, often helped by inverted full-backs and Perrone to create overloads and beat the press.

Goalkeeper distribution to centre-backs: the move starts with a pass from the goalkeeper to the two centre-backs positioned either side of him.​

Out-of-possession team instructions​

Pressing Line: higher.​

Defensive line: higher.​

Defensive line behaviour: step up more.

Defensive transition: counter-press to ask our players to press high all over the pitch.​

Pressing intensity: trigger press more often.​

Tackling: get stuck in (to be removed if too many yellow and red cards are picked up).​

Pressing trap: trap outside, to force opponent towards the flanks.​

Goalkeeper distribution: short.​

Como defend and press high in a compact 4-4-2 where Nico Paz steps up alongside Morata to form the first pressing line and the wingers Diao and Rodriguez drop back alongside the holding midfielders, very close to the defensive line, with full-backs and centre-backs also holding a high position. The aim is to force opponents to play down the flanks, where it is easier to press them with 2 v 1 situations, using aggressive tackles and an intense gegenpressing approach that targets immediate ball recovery.​

Tactic no. 2​

Player roles and instructions​

In the second version of Fabregas’ Como tactic, in possession only some roles change: the two full-backs, the holding midfielder Perrone and the number 10 Nico Paz, who plays higher up behind the striker and has more licence to shoot from distance. For the two attacking wide players, the stay wider instruction is removed, because in this shape the width is already provided by the full-backs. Out of possession, roles and instructions remain the same as in the first tactic. The changes are as follows:​

Right-back: Stefan Posch​

Role in possession: Wing Back

Instructions: stay wider​

Left-back: Alex Valle​

Role in possession: Advanced Wing-Back

Instructions: stay wider​

In this tactic, Posch and Valle hold high and wide positions, with Valle pushed up on the midfield line and Posch on the defensive line but with much more licence to advance down the flank while keeping maximum width.​

Right defensive midfielder: Maximo Perrone​

Role in possession: Half-back

Instructions: none​

Here Perrone drops between the two centre-backs, creating a back three that starts the build-up along with the goalkeeper. This three-man build-up is useful for creating numerical superiority against pressing forwards and for freeing the two full-backs Posch and Valle to push on down the wings.​

Central attacking midfielder: Nico Paz​

Role in possession: Advanced playmaker (high up the pitch in the same line of the two wingers)

Instructions: make more runs, roam from position, move into channels, shoot more often, dribble more​.

In this tactic, Nico Paz plays closer to the striker and has greater licence to shoot from long range, an area in which he excels.​

Team Instructions In Possession


Tempo: Standard

In this tactic, we leave more freedom to the players to decide whether to build up the action more patiently or more quickly.

Width: Standard

Here too, having two very wide fullbacks who look to overlap and create a numerical superiority on the flanks, we leave more freedom to the players to decide whether to play more laterally or centrally.

Attacking Transition: Counter-attack

Como looks for the counter-attack when possible; they do not obstinately seek ball possession and patient build-up play. For this reason, I selected the counter-attack instruction in this second tactic.

Overlaps: On the Flanks

The aim is to feed the high and wide fullbacks who overlap on the flanks, while the wingers move centrally.

Ball Progression: Balanced

For the same reason, players are left with the freedom to decide whether to progress the action centrally or laterally.

Goalkeeper Distribution: Mixed (and not Distribute to Centre-backs)

When the central defenders are pressed by the opposing attackers, Como can look for a pass to the high and wide fullbacks or a long ball from the goalkeeper towards the striker, who acts as a target man for the wingers or for Nico Paz.

Results​

The tactics were tested in the 2025-26 season with Como without any players being bought or sold in either transfer window (summer or winter). All Serie A matches were managed by myself, from the opening game against Lazio on 24 August 2025 to the final match against Cremonese. Unfortunately, Como were knocked out of the Coppa Italia in the first round without playing by myself (Como 0–1 Cittadella), as that match was played on 16 August 2025 and the save started on 18 August 2025.​

Even if I mainly used the first tactic, I often switched to the second tactic during the same game.

Serie A: winners​

Points: 88​

Wins: 27​

Draws: 7​

Losses: 4​

Goals scored: 82​

Goals conceded: 42​


In my Patreon page you can find Como's real tactic analysis, Football Manager 2026 tactic analysis and guide, fmf file to download and fm 24 fmf file and screenshots too

https://www.patreon.com/posts/cesc-fabregas-26-145600436?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

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In my youtube video here you can see stats, highlights with my comment and the tactic guide to create both versions.
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Tactic Screenshots

Tactic 1 In possession



Tactic 1 Out of Possession



Tactic 2 in Possession



Tactic 2 Out of Possession



Serie A Table



P.S. It often happens that when I post my tactics in this site some of you tell me the file works and some others tells me the link does not work (404 not found) if I upload the fmf file in this site (in my personal space) so I tried to upload it in mediafire but then some of you tells me that the file can be downloaded but not imported in the game (when you go to tactic screen in fm 26 and try to load my tactic) because according to what Stam (the administrator of this site) kindly explained to me, mediafire changes the name of the file automatically (it means it can't be avoided if you upload the file on mediafire) and the game only accepts the original file name. So now I used the link to my personal space here (with Chivu tactic it worked, with Conte tactic not) but if it does not work you have the guide to create both tactics here in the description. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you