Football Season Guide

It took Como more than 20 years, mainly characterized by dark seasons of semi-amateur football and even the club’s bankruptcy, to make it back to the Serie A at the end of a rather complicated campaign. In fact, having started the season with great ambitions, they found themselves changing the coach by week 14. Moreno Longo, who had led them to salvation a few months before, was sacked despite obtaining positive results and the dynamic duo formed by Cesc Fabregas and Osian Roberts took over. The former actually was the mastermind of the duo but lacked the necessary coaching license. Under the Spaniard, they adopted a back 4 instead of the usual back 3 and eventually managed to achieve promotion going unbeaten in the last 9. Fabregas was logically confirmed at the helm and his permanence worked as a calling card for the club to attract mostly experienced talents. With Semper gone to Pisa, they hired Audero, who played too little at Inter, as the new starting goalie, with seasoned Pepe Reina as his back-up. The defence was also completetely renewed with cente-backs Odenthal and Curto gone for pastures new together with left-back Ioannou. Former Real Madrid star Varane joined up the club together with Dossena, who had a great season at Cagliari, and they are expected to act in the heart of the defence with Alberto Moreno, another Spaniard, acting at left-back. The midfield lost Bellemo, who was loaned out to Sampdoria, but he should be replaced by Mazzitelli, coming from an unlucky campaign at Frosinone, who should play next to Braunoder, signing permanently, with promising Engelhardt acting as back-up. In the attack, they acquired the services of Belotti, who keeps fighting a lot but is a long way from the prolific striker admired at Torino, with Cerri as back-up, and he will be supported by Strefezza, who also signed permanently, and confirmed Cutrone and Da Cunha, with just-arrived Jasim coming from the bench. Como are still looking for a right-back, a midfielder and another offensive player.