Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter in Como

I am looking forward to seeing Nico Paz play tonight.

The 22-year-old was born in Tenerife but plays for Argentina.

With Lionel Messi now retired from the international game, many pundits feel he will take over the playmaker role.

Como boss Cesc Fabregas stepped in at yesterday's press conference when Paz was asked about the prospect of taking over from Messi.

I don't think I would be encouraging the link either. Replacing one of the best players ever is a pretty thankless task, no matter how good you are.

Image source, Getty Images

Champions League

Como manager Cesc Fabregas speaking to TNT before the game starts: "It's a very special night for the city, for the club and everyone around it. We have grown a lot in the last few years, and I think the players deserve to be living nights like this, but again, let's enjoy it. Great emotion for us, but at the end of the day it's a football match. It's 11 against 11 tonight we'll try to do our best."

On the playing style of the team: "Well, it's a long process. We are still in a growing process. We have a very very young team, we are trying to create a culture and style of play. It can take years you know, it's in the last two or three years that we have started to push and grow in a very rapid way.

"At the end of the day, it's about conviction, it's to send a very clear message and idea. The good thing is that the young players are not scared, and play with a bit of freedom. Over the years you when you get older you start to get a little bit more worried."

On Man Utd's back four not playing together enough: "Of course we will try to exploit what we think and where we can hurt them but at the same time I can say they have a team that can be very conservative with the ball, they have top quality players who can keep the ball very well today. I think they will try to keep the ball away from us, have a very stable game and for us, it's the opposite because we want to do the same thing. It will be a very entertaining game."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter in Como

I didn't see the UEFA Youth League game earlier but someone messaged me to say Tynan Thompson hadn't impressed.

It is interesting he is on the bench tonight for Manchester United.

I think that is for experience more than anything because I can't imagine Michael Carrick will call on the 18-year-old this evening.

Thompson arrived from Tottenham's academy in July in a deal that could cost United £8m.

Thompson got first-team minutes against Leeds in pre-season and clearly the club have a plan for him.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sounds

BBC Radio 5 Live are on air now, bringing you build-up and live commentary from the Allianz Arena. Plus, updates from around-the-grounds.

On the move? Listen on this page or the BBC Sounds app.

Busy at home? Just say to your smart speaker, ‘Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Arsenal match’.

BBC Sport visits Como to discover the vision and philosophy of the club's coach, Cesc Fabregas, who has overseen the team's remarkable rise to the Champions League.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Chief Football News Reporter in Como

"It's Manchester United. We are only just getting our heads around the fact we are playing Inter, Milan and Juventus.

"This is without doubt the biggest night in the club's history."

The words of a Como staff member say it all.

United may not be the force they once were and travel to Italy on the brink of a full-blown crisis after six games without a win, their worst run since 2018-19. But, in terms of global stature, they are immense.

To put this into context, when United savoured the last of their three Champions League triumphs in 2008, Como were a Serie D club, playing in one of nine semi-professional regional leagues, where attendances tend to be measured in their hundreds.

Como's starting XI have maded a combined 62 Champions League appearances (prior to tonight), compared to 242 in the Manchester United starting line-up.

Como boss Cesc Fabregas: "Playing Manchester United is a historic day once again for the club, the city of Como and fanbase.

"When I retired as a player, I coached to get experience. I explained what I thought of the club and my vision and put the plan to work. We are a family here. Even when we lose, fans come and celebrate.

"We need to be humble and remember who we were because the story of Como will be beautiful, and we will remember it forever."

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter in Como

This is a big night for Matthijs de Ligt.

When the Netherlands defender hurt his back before the trip to Crystal Palace last November, Ruben Amorim said he would only be missing for a short while.

That absence stretched on and on. Eventually, De Ligt had surgery to solve the problem but even that recovery has gone on longer than initially thought.

De Ligt was arguably United's best player leading up to his absence. It is unfair to ask him to find his form immediately, but Michael Carrick must hope the return goes smoothly.

Image source, Getty Images

Como boss Cesc Fabregas was asked in his pre-match press conference about the possibility of taking over from Michael Carrick, who is without a win in his last six games.

"I won't answer that question because I think that's not a very nice question," Fàbregas said.

"I don't think that shows enough respect to a great footballer and manager like Michael Carrick at the helm of a wonderful Manchester United side."

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter in Como

England defender Trevoh Chalobah misses out for Como with a muscle injury while Cesc Fabregas only names eight on the bench, including two goalkeepers.

Como XI: Butez, Yan Couto, Ramon, Kempf, Valle, Milla, Peronne, Da Cunha, Paz, Baturina, Douvikas.

Substitutes: Ginelli, Sanchez, Caqueret, Dossena, Kaiki, Ricci, Smolcic, Liberali.

Matthijs de Ligt starts for the first time in 11 months as Michael Carrick makes four changes to the side that drew at Leeds.

De Ligt has recovered from back surgery, after being sidelined since last November, and replaces injured Argentina international Lisandro Martinez.

Mason Mount, Matheus Cunha and Noussair Mazraoui are also recalled. Young winger Tynan Thompson is named on the bench after featuring in the UEFA Youth League loss to Como earlier today.

Man Utd XI: Lammens, Dalot, De Ligt, Maguire, Mazraoui, Mount, Andrey Santos, Cunha, Tielemans, Bruno Fernandes, Mbeumo.

Substitutes: Darlow, Heaton, Zirkzee, Amad, Baleba, Thompson, Lacey, J Fletcher, T Fletcher, Amass, Kamason, Armer.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter in Como

The weather forecast for today was awful.

It turned out to be not quite as bad as feared but it is raining heavily now.

Nevertheless, the pitch looks in good condition, which should speed things up.

Michael Carrick knows Manchester United need a victory, not just to enhance their chances of a top eight finish - or even a top-24, but to end a run of six matches without a win in all competitions and to ease the pressure on the head coach.

Image source, BBC Sport

Hello!

Welcome along to our coverage of tonight's Champions League action.

Arsenal and Aston Villa are in action later but first up is Manchester United, who are in Italy today to face Como. That game kicks off at 17:45 BST.

Having played for Arsenal and Chelsea in his career Cesc Fabregas is very familiar with facing Manchester United.

Today he lines up against them once more, but this time from the dugout as his Como side looks to upset the Red Devils in the Champions League.

Image source, Getty Images