Nico Paz isn’t holding back, folks. The Argentine attacking midfielder is straight up crediting Como coach Cesc Fabregas with teaching him “practically everything” and shaping him into the Serie A beast he is today. With quotes hitting UEFA’s official channels via Tuttomercatoweb, Paz laid it all out about his journey and Como’s first season in the Champions League.
From Castilla to Serie A Star
This isn’t just some casual shout-out. Paz came to Como in 2024 from Real Madrid’s Castilla squad, barely sniffing first-team action. We’re talking about a guy who was a reserve-team player in a lower division, now one of Serie A’s most creative talents and a regular for Argentina. Paz emphasized, “I arrived here as a young player from Castilla. I’d played a few games for Real Madrid, but in the end I was a reserve-team player in a lower division. Coming here and playing in Serie A, the top flight, allowed me to grow and improve a lot, both as a player and as a person.” He gives full credit to Fabregas, saying, “It was all thanks to Cesc, who believed in me and brought me here. From the first day he let me play the way I wanted and gave me a lot of freedom. He taught me a lot. I think the player I am today is all down to him.” That’s high praise, showing just how much impact Fabregas has had on the young player’s career.
Champions League Dreams Come True
And speaking of big steps, Como just made their European debut in the Champions League at home to RB Leipzig last month. Paz called it “incredible,” walking out with the Champions League anthem playing in their own stadium. You gotta feel that. “Hearing that anthem meant we were finally playing in the Champions League, and against Leipzig, a team that has played in the competition many times. It gave us a huge boost. It was a special match for us, professionally and personally.” For a lot of these guys, including Paz, it was a literal dream come true, a huge boost for the team. “It’s special because every child dreams of playing in the Champions League, and most of us had never played in it before. It was a dream come true and a step forward.”
The Road Ahead: Ambition and Effort
So what’s next for Como and Paz? The dude isn’t resting on any laurels. He knows the competition only gets tougher in the Champions League, and they’ve gotta keep growing. Paz stated, “We can always give more. We have to, otherwise we’ll reach a dead end. We’ll face progressively stronger teams, and there are difficult games ahead in the Champions League. We have to keep growing to be able to face those teams.” But he’s confident in the squad’s mentality. “But we’re doing it and we’ll keep doing it. We’re an ambitious team and we want to keep growing. We want to play well in every game, and we will, because our team is mentally ready.” When asked about Como’s target, Paz kept it simple and focused: “I think the key is giving everything on the pitch. If at the end of the game you walk off thinking you could have run a bit more or done something differently… If everyone walks off knowing they gave their all and the opponents.” That’s the kind of ambition you love to see, and it’s clear Fabregas has built something special over there with players like Paz leading the charge.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply