Como's rise has been remarkable, but the ambition is to make their success last.
The club's journey from Italy's lower leagues to Serie A and Champions League qualification is an extraordinary story. Yet what makes it so compelling is the speed of their progress, combined with a determination to establish themselves as a force in Italian football for years to come.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News, Como sporting director Carlalberto Ludi reflects on the club's transformation, the influence of head coach Cesc Fabregas and an unlikely reunion with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.
Cesc Fabregas: The driving force behind Como's rise
To understand Como's recent history, look at the transformation since Fabregas joined the club in 2022.
The former Spain international arrived towards the end of his playing career, with Como in Serie B. He subsequently retired, joined the club's academy coaching staff and eventually became head coach of the senior team.
In the four years since his arrival, Fabregas has helped Como secure promotion to Serie A for the first time in 21 years before guiding them to Champions League qualification last season for the first time in the club's history.
Ludi believes the Spaniard's influence extends far beyond the pitch.
"Cesc made a big difference. Not only on the field, but also off the field, in my opinion - the culture of the club, everything. The professionalism, everything, to be honest," he said.
"He brought his mentality into the club and that's one of the reasons why we improved and grew so quickly. Thanks to him, we are fantastic, to be honest.
"We have been fantastic on the field, but thanks to him we also improved our mentality, so we were ready to compete for the Champions League."
Fabregas' presence was evident at his news conference ahead of Como's meeting with Manchester United. Sitting alongside summer signing Nico Paz, he fielded questions on a range of subjects, including whether he could one day become United's head coach.
The composure with which he handled the questions reflected the authority he has established at Como. While the word 'aura' is often overused in football, it is difficult to ignore the impact Fabregas has made on the club.
Ludi is particularly impressed by the 39-year-old's willingness to keep learning.
"He's very young, but he's so open-minded, to be honest. He's the first who wants to improve and learn," he said.
"That, in my opinion, is one of his best qualities and he's making a difference.
"Our team is Cesc Fabregas on the field. Courage, intelligence, talent, talented players. We are trying to do the same with our team. The way Cesc is and the way Cesc was as a footballer is what we want to be as a team."
Bruno Fernandes and an unlikely reunion
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Ludi share a similar journey through Italian football, having both experienced the climb from Serie B towards the Champions League.
The pair shared a dressing room at Novara when Fernandes was just 17, with Ludi serving as his captain as the teenager began his professional career.
Asked what the young Fernandes was like, Ludi smiled before describing him as "phenomenal".
Fernandes went on to play for Udinese and Sampdoria before moving to Sporting Lisbon and eventually Manchester United. Ludi, however, still remembers the teenager who is now set to lead United against Como.
"I'm really happy to speak about Bruno," Ludi said.
"We met each other when he was a kid, literally a kid. He was a kid in a professional environment, so he probably wasn't ready to join a professional environment.
"At the beginning, I needed to guide him in our dressing room in order for him to understand what being a professional meant.
"But then, to be honest, it was fantastic because I met a fantastic guy, a humble person, a top footballer, but an open-minded guy, always ready to support, ready to help, ready to enjoy, ready to have fun with all of us.
"He's a very nice guy, so I was so happy and I always celebrated his improvement because he deserves it.
"I imagine it'll be nice to see him, maybe after the game, but to be honest, it would be fantastic to meet him in the Champions League. It's something I never expected, and it would be just fantastic.
"It was just one season but a great season for all of us, and I think that I met one of the best people I've ever met in my life."
Manchester United come to Como
There have been defining moments in Como's recent history, not least the draw against Cosenza in May 2024 that secured the point they needed for promotion to Serie A.
That achievement laid the foundations for the club's subsequent rise to the Champions League. But hosting Manchester United represents another landmark in a journey that has exceeded expectations.
Spending time around the club in the build-up to the game, the excitement is palpable. There is a sense of disbelief, pride and appreciation at the prospect of welcoming Michael Carrick's United side.
For Ludi, who joined Como in 2019, the scale of the transformation is particularly striking.
"Yeah, it's incredible, to be honest," he said.
"I started to work here in 2019 and there was nothing.
"Now we have the Champions League, we have Man Utd at home, and it's something that is amazing, literally amazing.
"Sometimes it's good to look behind, because sometimes we forget what we did. In football, every day there is something to achieve, there is a reason to step forward.
"I don't want to be arrogant, but we are here to write the history of Como, and this is another page, a big page of our history.
"We want our fans to be proud of us and we want to compete, to fight, in order to write another page. First of all, it will be another nice page in the history of Como."
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