CLUB SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Club | Como 1907 |
| League | Serie A |
| Manager | Cesc Fàbregas |
| Stadium | Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia |
| Nickname | I Lariani |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Defensive Leader | Jacobo Ramón |
| Marquee Signing | Trevoh Chalobah |
| Key Full-Backs | Yan Couto, Álex Valle |
| Current League Position | 5th (23 points from 11 matches) |
The Defining Moment
Como’s defensive department entered 2026/27 with a statement of intent that few promoted sides could match. The previous season had been a revelation: 29 goals conceded, the fewest in Serie A, a defensive record that underpinned a fourth-place finish and Champions League qualification. Cesc Fàbregas had built a team that controlled games through possession, but the foundation was a back line that had learned to defend with intelligence and discipline rather than sheer numbers.
The defining moment of the summer came in late August, when Como completed the permanent signing of Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea. The 27-year-old English defender, a product of Chelsea’s academy with over a decade of association with the London club, arrived to add Premier League experience and physical presence to a defence that was technically gifted but sometimes lightweight. It was a signing that signalled ambition: Como were not content to merely compete in the Champions League; they intended to build a squad capable of sustaining it.
Around Chalobah, Fàbregas assembled a defensive unit of remarkable depth and variety. Yan Couto arrived from Borussia Dortmund to solve the right-back problem. Álex Valle, the 22-year-old Spanish left-back, continued his development after arriving from Barcelona. Jacobo Ramón, at just 21, emerged as the most-used defender in the squad, his 1,200 minutes across all competitions a testament to Fàbregas’s trust in his composure and ball-playing ability. Marc-Oliver Kempf provided veteran cover. Willy Kambwala, Kaiki, and Ivan Smolčić offered rotation options.
The results have been impressive. Como sit fifth in Serie A with 23 points from 11 matches, having conceded just 10 goals — a rate of 0.91 per game that places them among the division’s best defensive sides. The defensive structure that Fàbregas painstakingly constructed has held firm through the opening phase, even as the attacking output has fluctuated.
This is the story of Como’s 2026/27 defenders: a young Spaniard who has become the anchor, an English arrival who added steel, and a collection of full-backs and squad players learning to function in one of Serie A’s most demanding systems.
Tactical Context
Fàbregas’s Como is built on possession and positional play. The 4-2-3-1 that the Spanish coach favours in the team sheet is misleading; during build-up, the players rotate constantly, creating numerical superiorities in midfield and drawing opponents out of position. The defenders are not merely defenders in this system; they are the first passers, the players who initiate the sequences that allow Como to control games.
The demands on the centre-backs are specific and unforgiving. They must be comfortable in possession under pressure. They must be able to step into midfield and break lines with their passing. And they must be mobile enough to defend large spaces when the full-backs advance. Jacobo Ramón embodies this profile: at 21, he is already one of the most reliable distributors in the squad, his composure belying his age. Chalobah offers a different dimension: more physically imposing, more experienced, capable of defending the aerial duels that Ramón sometimes struggles with.
The full-backs are the system’s engine. Yan Couto, the Brazilian right-back signed from Dortmund, is an attacking force: his 1,018 minutes across 13 appearances have yielded two assists, and his willingness to overlap and deliver crosses provides width that the narrow attacking midfielders cannot. Álex Valle, on the left, has contributed three assists in 825 minutes, his delivery from wide areas a crucial outlet.
The numbers reflect a team that is comfortable without the ball but aggressive in its attempts to win it back. Como’s defensive record of 10 goals conceded in 11 matches is among the best in Serie A, and their ability to limit the quality of chances opponents create is a testament to the organisation that Fàbregas has drilled into his back line. The system requires intelligence and discipline in equal measure, and the defenders have embraced it.
The Defenders
Jacobo Ramón
Ramón is the anchor of Como’s defence and the player upon whom Fàbregas’s system depends. The 21-year-old Spaniard, who arrived from Real Madrid’s academy, has started 14 matches across all competitions, completing 1,200 minutes — more than any other defender in the squad. His profile is that of the modern ball-playing centre-back: composed in possession, accurate in his distribution, and intelligent in his positioning.
His numbers reflect his importance: three goals and two assists from centre-back is an extraordinary return for a player of his age, a testament to his ability to contribute in the attacking third as well as the defensive one. His market value has risen to €20.7 million, a reflection of his emergence as one of Serie A’s most promising young defenders.
The limitation is physical. At 21, Ramón is still filling out, and against the more imposing forwards in Serie A, he can be overwhelmed. But his reading of the game and his technical quality compensate for any physical shortcomings. His partnership with Chalobah, in particular, offers a balance of youth and experience, technique and physicality.
At 21, Ramón has time to develop. His continued growth will determine whether Como’s defence becomes a long-term strength or a temporary success.
Trevoh Chalobah
Chalobah is the summer’s marquee defensive signing, the English centre-back who arrived from Chelsea to add Premier League experience and physical presence to a young back line. At 27, he arrives at the peak of his career, having spent over a decade at Stamford Bridge and made over 70 appearances for the club.
His profile is that of the modern English centre-back: physically imposing, comfortable in the air, capable of playing out from the back. Standing 190 centimetres, he offers the height and strength that Ramón lacks, and his experience of playing in the Premier League and European competition provides a calibre of know-how that few in the Como squad can match.
His integration has been gradual. Eight appearances and 643 minutes across all competitions reflect a player still adapting to Fàbregas’s system and the rhythms of Serie A. But the early signs are promising: his physicality has added steel to a defence that was sometimes bullied, and his composure on the ball has allowed Como to maintain their possession-based approach even against pressing opponents.
At 27, Chalobah is in his prime. His market value of €29.9 million makes him the most valuable defender in the squad, a reflection of his quality and his importance to the project.
Yan Couto
Couto is the attacking right-back who has become an integral part of Como’s attacking machinery. The 24-year-old Brazilian, signed from Borussia Dortmund, has made 13 appearances and contributed two assists in 1,018 minutes. His profile is that of the modern full-back: fast, direct, capable of beating his man and delivering crosses, but also defensively responsible enough to function in a back four.
His value to the system lies in his width. In a team that relies on narrow attacking midfielders and a fluid front line, Couto’s willingness to overlap and stretch defences provides an outlet that opponents struggle to contain. His pace allows him to recover defensively when attacks break down, and his stamina enables him to cover the entire right flank.
At 24, Couto is entering his prime. His market value of €17.8 million reflects his quality, and his continued development will be essential to Como’s ability to compete on multiple fronts.
Álex Valle
Valle is the left-sided counterpart to Couto, a 22-year-old Spanish full-back who has contributed three assists in 11 appearances and 825 minutes. His profile is similar to Couto’s: attacking, direct, and comfortable in possession, but with a slightly more reserved defensive approach.
His delivery from wide areas is his strongest attribute. Three assists in the opening phase is a respectable return for a full-back, and his ability to combine with the attacking midfielders on the left has been a feature of Como’s attacking play. His market value of €11.5 million reflects his potential, and at 22, he has time to develop further.
Marc-Oliver Kempf
Kempf is the veteran of the defensive unit, a 31-year-old German centre-back who provides experience and depth. His 10 appearances and 664 minutes reflect his role as a rotation option, stepping in when Ramón or Chalobah are unavailable or when Fàbregas needs a more physically imposing presence.
His profile is that of the traditional centre-back: strong in the air, committed in the tackle, and capable of organising a defence. His one goal in the opening phase was a valuable contribution, and his experience is invaluable in a dressing room that includes several young defenders.
Willy Kambwala, Kaiki, and Ivan Smolčić
Kambwala, a 22-year-old French centre-back on loan from Villarreal, provides additional depth at centre-back. Kaiki, a 23-year-old Brazilian left-back, offers cover for Valle. Smolčić, a 26-year-old Croatian right-back, provides an alternative to Couto. None has established himself as a regular starter, but their presence ensures that Fàbregas has options across a long season.
Alberto Dossena and Edoardo Goldaniga
Dossena and Goldaniga are the fringe defenders, veterans who have been pushed to the margins by the arrivals of Chalobah and the emergence of Ramón. Dossena, 28, has made just one appearance; Goldaniga, 33, has not featured. Their futures at the club appear uncertain, with reports suggesting they could leave in January.
The Numbers Game
Table A: Como Defender Serie A Statistics (2026/27)
| Player | Apps (Starts) | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacobo Ramón | 14 (14) | 1,200 | 3 | 2 | Most-used defender |
| Yan Couto | 13 (13) | 1,018 | 0 | 2 | Attacking right-back |
| Álex Valle | 11 (11) | 825 | 0 | 3 | Left-back, set-piece delivery |
| Marc-Oliver Kempf | 10 (4) | 664 | 1 | 0 | Rotation option |
| Trevoh Chalobah | 8 (8) | 644 | 0 | 0 | Summer signing, integrating |
| Kaiki | 10 (0) | 531 | 1 | 2 | Left-back cover |
| Ivan Smolčić | 10 (2) | 270 | 0 | 0 | Right-back depth |
| Willy Kambwala | 2 (0) | 53 | 0 | 0 | Squad depth |
| Alberto Dossena | 1 (0) | 10 | 0 | 0 | Fringe |
Table B: Como Defence – Key Metrics (2026/27)
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Conceded per Game | 0.91 | 10 conceded in 11 matches |
| Clean Sheets | 4 | In Serie A |
| Record | 7W-2D-2L | 5th in Serie A |
| Goals Conceded (2025/26) | 29 | Fewest in Serie A |
| Defenders Used | 10 | Across all competitions |
Table C: Defender Career Context & Pedigree
| Player | Nationality | Previous Clubs | Style Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacobo Ramón | Spain | Real Madrid Academy | Ball-playing centre-back, composed, attacking threat |
| Trevoh Chalobah | England | Chelsea | Physical, aerial, Premier League experience |
| Yan Couto | Brazil | Borussia Dortmund, Man City | Attacking right-back, pace, crossing |
| Álex Valle | Spain | Barcelona Academy | Attacking left-back, delivery, developing |
| Marc-Oliver Kempf | Germany | Hertha Berlin, Stuttgart | Veteran centre-back, aerial, organiser |
| Kaiki | Brazil | Cruzeiro | Left-back cover, attacking |
| Willy Kambwala | France | Villarreal, Man United Academy | Young centre-back, physical, developing |
Tactical Identity & Squad Balance
Como’s defensive unit is a study in Fàbregas’s philosophy. The back four of Couto, Ramón, Chalobah, and Valle offers a blend of attributes that the Spanish coach believes is essential: pace, ball-playing ability, physical presence, and attacking thrust from wide areas. It is not a perfect quartet — no defensive unit is — but it is one constructed with intention rather than accident.
The numbers tell a story of efficiency. Ten goals conceded in 11 matches is a record that places Como among the best defensive sides in Serie A, a remarkable achievement for a club that was in Serie B three years ago. The four clean sheets reflect a structure that limits the quality of chances opponents create, and a goalkeeper in Butez who facilitates the build-up rather than merely reacting to danger.
The depth is adequate but not abundant. With Dossena and Goldaniga marginalised, Fàbregas has six senior defenders for four positions: Ramón, Chalobah, Kempf, Couto, Valle, and Kaiki. An injury to Ramón or Chalobah would force a reshuffle, but the emergence of Kambwala and the versatility of Smolčić provide some cover.
The most intriguing tactical subplot is the attacking contribution of the full-backs. Couto and Valle have combined for five assists in the opening phase, a return that reflects their importance to Como’s attacking play. In a system that relies on narrow attacking midfielders and a fluid front line, the width provided by the full-backs is essential. If they can maintain their productivity while remaining defensively solid, Como will have one of the most balanced defensive units in the division.
The January window is unlikely to see significant defensive reinforcements. Como’s record is among the best in the division, and the club’s resources are better directed toward the attacking positions that have produced just 18 goals in 11 matches. The priority is to maintain the current structure and hope that injuries do not expose its fragility.
The Verdict from the Camp
Cesc Fàbregas, on his defensive philosophy:
Fàbregas’s Como is built on “connection,” maintaining stable distances between the lines and constantly rotating positions to drag opponents out of shape. When possession is lost, the preference is to organise high and mid-block pressing rather than retreating immediately to their own half.
Goal.com, on Chalobah’s arrival:
“Trevoh Chalobah has officially brought his twenty-year association with Chelsea to an end after completing a permanent transfer to Italian side Como. The versatile defender leaves Stamford Bridge to join an ambitious project spearheaded by former Blues icon Cesc Fabregas.”
Trivela, on Fàbregas’s system:
“Without the ball, the team also presents a clear organisation. The formation often approaches a 4-4-2, with the centre-forward and the most advanced midfielder leading the pressure. The idea is to guide the opponent’s build-up to the sides and then corner the ball carrier near the touchline.”
Where Next?
Como’s defensive priority is clear: they need Ramón and Chalobah to develop an understanding, and they need Couto and Valle to maintain their attacking output without compromising defensive solidity. The pairing of Ramón and Chalobah has the potential to be one of the most balanced centre-back partnerships in Serie A: youth and experience, technique and physicality, composure and aggression.
The development of Ramón is the most intriguing subplot. At 21, he is already one of the most reliable defenders in the squad, his three goals and two assists a testament to his all-round contribution. If he continues on his current trajectory, he will attract interest from Europe’s elite clubs, and Como may face a battle to keep him.
The January window is unlikely to bring changes. Como’s defensive record is among the best in the division, and the club’s resources are better directed elsewhere. The priority is to maintain the status quo and hope that the structure holds through the demanding months of Champions League and Serie A football.
For now, Como’s defenders are a unit defined by quiet efficiency. Ramón leads, Chalobah adds steel, Couto and Valle provide width, and the supporting cast offers depth without drama. The question is whether efficiency is enough for a club with Como’s ambitions. The early-season evidence suggests it might be — as long as the structure holds and the full-backs keep delivering.
