Como's Champions League dream is hanging by a thread, and head coach Cesc Fabregas has dropped a bombshell: star midfielder Nico Paz may have played his last game of the season. The Spanish playmaker is nursing a knee injury that could sideline him for the crucial run-in, leaving fans and teammates on edge.
"Nico Paz is injured, he will not be there tomorrow with Parma," Fabregas revealed in a tense press conference. "He had a knock to the knee. If it had been played on Monday, we might be in a different situation, but in all honesty I can't say if he'll play the last game either. I hope so, but I couldn't tell you for sure."
The timing couldn't be worse. Como travel to the Stadio Tardini on Sunday at 11:00 UK time, with kickoff scheduled alongside Roma, Napoli, Juventus, and Milan to ensure a level playing field in the frantic race for a top-four finish. Every point is precious, and losing a creative force like Paz is a major blow.
Fabregas also confirmed that left-back Alex Valle's season is over due to a flexor injury, while Jayden Addai is unavailable. The injury list is piling up just as Como face their biggest test of the campaign.
"Obviously, there is hunger for an incredible opportunity. If you don't win tomorrow, that opportunity is gone," Fabregas said, his voice carrying the weight of the moment. "It is the match of the season, I would hope everyone was fired up for this occasion."
Off the pitch, there's been a stir around young forward Jesus Rodriguez. Reports suggest he reacted angrily to being substituted in last week's win over Verona, even removing Como pictures from his Instagram page. Fabregas downplayed the drama: "I did that to shake up the team against Verona. I would be surprised if he did that on Instagram, because that is not his usual attitude at all. In any case, that's not important."
With Champions League football tantalizingly close, Como's resilience will be tested like never before. Can they overcome the absence of key players and keep their dream alive? Sunday's clash with Parma will tell the tale.