INTERVIEW – Arriving in Italy two and a half years ago, Lucas Da Cunha speaks about the rise of the Como 1907 sports project, led in particular by Cesc Fabregas and Raphaël Varane.
Before facing Torino with Como 1907 this Monday during the 12th day of Serie A, Lucas Da Cunha (24 years old) spoke to Figaro. Trained at Stade Rennais then passed through Nice and Clermont before flying to Italy, the French captain looks back on his rise, the sporting project supported by Como, the influence of his Spanish coach Cesc Fabregas and the ambitions of a club bought in 2019, now considered one of the most promising projects in European football.
LE FIGARO. – Como is 7th in Serie A in mid-November. What does this ranking mean for the club’s development?
Skip the ad
Lucas DA CUNHA. – It’s the club’s job. Over the past two years, many recruits have arrived to bring Côme to the highest level. The end of last season was already positive, and the start of this one confirms this dynamic. We are moving in the right direction.
Do you feel like you’ve reached a milestone this season?
Yes, because we have been working with the coach for a while (Cesc Fabregas was appointed head coach in July 2024, Editor’s note). The whole group understands its expectations and its playing principles better. We feel that what we are putting in place is working and can last.
What explains this progression?
The daily work, whether of the staff or the team. And the recruits have made a real difference, the club has invested intelligently in high quality players.
Skip the ad
You experienced the rise to Serie A in 2024 then the first season of transition. What has changed since then?
Especially the level of the opponents. In Serie B, it’s a completely different football from Serie A. We had to adapt. In terms of the club and work, not a lot has changed, the guideline has remained the same.
Como is moving quickly, and so are we.
Lucas Da Cunha
For two years, there has been a lot of talk about the “Como project”. From the inside, how would you define it today?
It’s an ambitious project that is moving quickly, in my opinion. The club puts in the resources, the results follow and we clearly see the progression, season after season.
Do you feel like you’re in a club apart from Italy?
Skip the ad
Not really. We have a hardworking group, with the desire to move in the same direction. Everything that is said around us changes nothing for the workforce.
When we talk about Como, we think of Cesc Fabregas who became coach, Raphaël Varane member of the board of directors, Thierry Henry minority shareholder… What is their concrete influence on a daily basis?
The coach, with this quality, already transmits a lot to us. We learn a lot every day, and when I say that, it’s really not a bad phrase. And when big names like Thierry Henry or Raphaël Varane come to visit us, it’s inevitably enriching.
How do they manage to convey their requirements to the team?
The coach emphasizes intensity, the team must be at 100% every day, whether in training or in matches. And not just with the ball, all the invisible work counts. This requirement has made us progress.
Being coached by Cesc Fabregas, what does that mean to you?
It’s a matter of great pride. He won everything, but above all he is an incredible human person. Being coached by someone like him is very educational.
You play alongside experienced players like Álvaro Morata, Sergio Roberto and even Diego Carlos. What did these players bring back to the Como game?
Lots of experience, leadership. We have a relatively young team, being surrounded by players who have experienced everything is a huge plus within the group.
The locker room is very international. How do you manage to create real chemistry despite all these different cultures?
Honestly, it happens naturally. There are a lot of Spaniards for example in the team, the language is close to Italian. We all speak more or less English. The cultures are different but that’s no problem, we communicate very well.
Como is a special city between calm and prestige, does this atmosphere play a role in the life of the club?
Not really. Already in Serie B, the city was behind us. In Serie A, it’s the same thing. The supporters are always present. It’s not the rise and the atmosphere of the city that changed everything.
Does this tranquility attract players from outside?
Certainly. But “quiet” doesn’t mean pressure-free. The supporters don’t harass us to take photos in the street, but here, we come to work and move the club forward. Regarding family life, it is true that it is more peaceful than in other cities.
Every weekend you face giants like Milan, Juve, Inter… How do you prepare for these big meetings?
We prepare all matches the same way, regardless of the opponent. In Serie A, nothing is simple, sometimes playing a bottom club is more difficult, this type of team really plays to win. All week, we work tactically depending on the opponent, with the same level of demands for each team.
Do you feel that the view of other clubs has changed on Como?
Yes, the way we are viewed has changed. We see it in the way opponents play. Today, teams are giving us the ball less and less. With possession is where we become most dangerous. All the teams in the championship consider us to be a club in the first half of the table.
From 17th in Serie B to captain, my choice paid off.
Lucas Da Cunha
You have experienced many stages in this adventure. How has your role evolved with the progression of the club?
I arrived when the club was 17th in Serie B. I came precisely for this kind of challenge. It was a real challenge, and I had to adapt. When I arrived, I lacked confidence. But over time, thanks to the sequence of matches and work, I have gained continuity, I really have a place in this team.
You left France at a young age to now be captain in Serie A. What has this trajectory taught you?
That following your instincts can pay off. I have always made choices for my career. I left to evolve, to play, and it worked. The armband was not necessarily a goal but it is a source of enormous pride.
What are the next steps for Como?
Maintain this level. We must continue this momentum without skipping steps, it is important not to rush. Everyone sees Como very highly, if the results are down, people will be disappointed. We are a young team, it takes time. But if we keep this level of work, great things can happen.
And for you, what would be the logical continuation of this progression?
I am happy here. I feel good. I want to continue to help the team as much as possible, play, progress, and achieve even more with Como.
