Cesc Fabregas slammed former Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata after his bizarre red card in Como’s Serie A defeat to Fiorentina.
Como slipped to only their fifth league loss of the season on Saturday, suffering a surprise 2-1 defeat at home to relegation-battlers Fiorentina.
Nicolo Fagioli gave the visitors the lead midway through the first half and ex-Premier League striker Moise Kean doubled Fiorentina’s advantage with a 54th-minute penalty.
Como sensed a late comeback when when Fabiano Parisi scored an own goal but were unable to find an equaliser and even finished the match with ten men.
Morata, who joined Como on loan from AC Milan at the start of the season,only came on as a second-half substitute but did not see out the game, receiving two yellow cards in the space of a minute.
Ex-Real Madrid striker Morata was shown the first following an off-the-ball tussle with Luca Ranieri but appeared to talk himself into a second yellow and was dismissed by referee Matteo Marchetti.
Morata looked bemused as the red card was brandished and he left the pitch but Fabregas had little sympathy for his former Chelsea teammate.
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‘Provocation is part of football,’ he told DAZN. ‘Those who can’t live with it should change careers.
‘I expect much more from an experienced player like him. The line between winning and losing is very thin so we shouldn’t find excuses, and we shouldn’t care what others do on the pitch.’
Discussing Como’s defeat more generally, Fabregas added: ‘I’m annoyed that I wasn’t able to help the boys understand the importance of the game.
‘I showed them my experience as a footballer during the week, maybe too much, but it wasn’t enough. We’re a young team.
‘It wasn’t a football match in the second half. Leaving that aside, the game has to be won with the right motivation and energy.
‘I feel bad as a coach, because I wasn’t able to convey this to my players today. Maybe it was in our heads. We made a mistake in our attitude, we have to show more desire.
‘I didn’t like the first half very much, the second half, I repeat, wasn’t a game of football.’
Como were expected to sign Morata on a permanent transfer at the end of his loan spell but his underwhelming stint at the club could force a rethink.
Morata, who helped Spain win the Euros in 2024, has scored just once for Como and is yet to get off the mark in 15 league games.
The 2-1 defeat leaves Como seventh in Serie A – five points outside the Champions League places – while Fiorentina stay 18th but are only in the relegation zone on goal difference.
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