Como president Suwarso: ‘Premier League has money but we have history, art and passion’

Como president Mirwan Suwarso insists his club can compete with Europe’s biggest teams by drawing on the unique appeal of the city and Italian football.

Como make their historic Champions League debut against RB Leipzig tonight, having risen rapidly under Cesc Fabregas and exceeded the club’s original plans.

Suwarso admits their progress has come faster than expected, particularly when it comes to infrastructure and the commercial side of the project.

“We are a small city with a small stadium. A match at San Siro is worth eight at the Sinigaglia in terms of revenue, and television rights reward those with history and trophies. We are challenging giants. On the pitch it is easier: if you play well, you are rewarded, while to sell our merchandise we need to be able to produce and distribute it. We are still making up ground,” Suwarso told La Repubblica, via TuttoMercatoWeb.

GENOA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 04: Nico Paz of Como celebrates scoring his team’s third goal with teammates during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Como 1907 at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on September 04, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Como president sets sights on global reach

However, the Como president believes their potential global audience is much greater than their local fanbase suggests, with online orders now coming from major cities around the world.

“Our local fanbase is limited, but the one we can reach globally is unlimited. It depends only on our ability to grow through marketing, branding and communication.”

Suwarso believes Como’s identity can help them stand out beyond football, highlighting the club’s social media growth and content focused on the city itself.

“What does the Premier League have compared to us? Money. But we have history, art, food and passion. Teams from beautiful cities such as Lecce or Salerno can have great appeal.”