Conte and Fabregas tension on the touchline during Napoli vs. Como

There was tension between Antonio Conte and Cesc Fabregas on the touchline during Napoli’s Serie A game with Como, as they reunited after their time at Chelsea.

Conte was the manager at Chelsea in 2016 when Fabregas was still a player, but they met again as equals at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this evening.

The history between them didn’t help calm the tension, as DAZN Italia’s pitchside reporters gave a running commentary of the bickering between the two coaches.

The Napoli boss was furious when a Como player went to ground in need of treatment, turning to his colleague with an accusation.

“Your players are diving and simulating. Is this how you prepared this? Is that what you’ve got planned?”

Fabregas tried to calm his former coach and got revenge soon after when Billy Gilmour was forced off by a muscular injury.

“See? Your players get hurt too, it happens.”

Fabregas was spotted running over to Conte as they went towards the tunnel for half-time, trying to clarify the earlier set-to, but the older man seemed uninterested in the explanation.

They continued to debate on the touchline in the second half, as frustration grew with the inability to break the deadlock.

Como had the best chance, as Vanja Milinkovic-Savic parried the Alvaro Morata penalty.

Full circle moments. 🔄

Cesc Fàbregas goes head-to-head with the man who once managed him, Antonio Conte. As Napoli battle it out vs Como in #SerieA! pic.twitter.com/FKG8xy4QEM

— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) November 1, 2025