Como manager Cesc Fabregas brutally suggested one of his big-name stars should stop playing football after his red card against Fiorentina.
Fabregas was frustrated with Alvaro Morata – a former Chelsea striker – who picked up two yellow cards in quick succession late in the match.
Fiorentina had gone 2-0 up thanks to contributions from Nicolo Fagiolo and Moise Kean but an own goal from Fabiano Parisi threw the cat among the pigeons.
But Como were unable to wrestle back a point, with Morata getting sent off in the 89th minute, and the defeat leaves them seventh in Serie A – five points off the Champions League places.
Fabregas said: ‘Provocation is part of football, those who can’t live with that should play another sport.
‘I expect much more from an experienced player like him. We can’t make excuses, though, and we can’t allow for what other people do on the pitch to affect us.’
Cesc Fabregas tore into Alvaro Morata after his red card in Como’s 2-1 defeat by Fiorentina
Former Chelsea striker Morata was dismissed after getting dragged into confrontations
Morata, 33, had been dragged into confrontations with Rolando Mandragora and then with Marin Pongracic, getting two yellow cards in rapid succession.
The Spaniard joined Como on loan from AC Milan in the summer but he has only scored one goal in 18 games.
Como are enjoying a remarkable sophomore season in Serie A under Fabregas and are well in contention for European football.
But Fabregas was irritated after this loss, also saying: ‘I’m annoyed that I wasn’t able to help the boys understand the importance of the game.
‘I showed them my experience as a footballer during the week, maybe too much, but it wasn’t enough. We’re a young team.
‘It wasn’t a football match in the second half. Leaving that aside, the game has to be won with the right motivation and energy. I feel bad as a coach, because I wasn’t able to convey this to my players today.
‘Maybe it was in our heads. We made a mistake in our attitude, we have to show more desire and be better in attack if we want to play our game.
‘In 72 hours, we’ll play in San Siro and then against Torino, and this is a good thing to look forward to after this game.’
Como are still in the hunt for silverware; in March and April, they play their Coppa Italia semi-final legs against Inter Milan.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, moved out of the relegation zone with the victory.
La Viola have endured a stormy season, spending a long time in the bottom three, but appear to have turned a corner since the start of the year, with three wins, three draws, and just two defeats in Serie A.
