MILAN (AP) — Cesc Fàbregas' Como secured a historic Champions League qualification on the final day of the Serie A season, completing one of the most remarkable rises in European football history.
AC Milan and Juventus both missed out on the Champions League places, while Cremonese were relegated.
The club had never appeared in any continental competition in its 119-year history, despite playing in Italy's fourth division just seven years ago.
Fabregas celebrates incredible journey
"When I arrived four years ago as a player, we changed in a bar. Today we're in the Champions League," Fabregas said. "Back then we trained without a sports center, in a place I don't remember. We had massages in the back room of a bar, on a field."
"Less than four years later, we're going to play in the Champions League. It's a huge achievement. This is a squad full of kids—the 15 players who played the most are nearly all under 23. I think that's marvelous."
Fabregas' press conference was interrupted by his overjoyed players, who threw water over their coach while singing the Champions League anthem played through a giant speaker wheeled into the room.
Final day drama decides European places
Four teams were competing for the final two Champions League berths going into the final round.
Roma finished third in the Italian standings, two points above Como in fourth place. TheGiallorossi won 2-0 at already-relegated Hellas Verona.
Milan finished one point below Como after losing 2-1 at home to Cagliari. TheRossoneri were loudly booed at the end of the match.
Juventus finished a point behind Milan after letting slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Torino. The match kicked off an hour late because of fan trouble.
Club's rapid transformation
Como, based on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy, has made rapid progress since Indonesian tobacco billionaire brothers Robert Budi Hartono and Michael Bambang Hartono purchased the club in 2019.
The club was in Serie D at the time of the takeover.
The Champions League qualification could help keep Fabregas at the club, with bigger clubs across Europe reportedly interested in the 39-year-old coach following his impressive early success in senior management.
Around Serie A
Antonio Conte's last match in charge of Napoli was a 1-0 win over Udinese, seeing his team finish second in Serie A. He confirmed after the final whistle that he was leaving Napoli.
Lecce beat Genoa 1-0 to secure Serie A safety, moving four points above 18th-place Cremonese. Verona and Pisa also dropped to the second division.