Cesc Fabregas Criticizes Dele Alli for 'Serious Mistake' in Disastrous Como Debut
Como head coach Cesc Fabregas has publicly criticized midfielder Dele Alli following his disastrous debut for the Italian club against AC Milan, where he received a red card shortly after coming off the bench.
The former Tottenham star made his long-awaited return to professional football after more than two years on the sidelines, only to be sent off for a mistimed challenge on Milan's Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The dismissal left Como at a numerical disadvantage as they ultimately suffered a 2-1 defeat.
"Milan have world-class players, they are a good team," Fabregas said after the match. "[Dele] is a player who scores goals, at this moment he has to improve a lot and it is a serious mistake for someone of his experience. He left the team in difficulty, that is the negative thing of the evening."
The 28-year-old midfielder joined Como earlier this year following his departure from Everton last December. After patiently waiting for his opportunity to return to competitive action, Alli squandered his chance with the ill-timed challenge that resulted in his dismissal.
The incident is particularly disappointing given Alli's lengthy absence from the game and the expectations surrounding his comeback. Once considered one of England's brightest talents during his time at Tottenham, his career has faced significant challenges in recent years.
Following his red card suspension, Alli will now have to wait even longer for his next opportunity to make a positive impact for Como in Serie A. Fabregas's comments suggest the midfielder has considerable work to do to regain both match fitness and the trust of his manager.
