European progress is all that counts – Neestrup

F.C. Copenhagen head coach Jacob Neestrup says winning the UEFA Conference League third-round qualifier with Banik Ostrava on penalties wasn't ideal but the end result was what the Lions came for.

FCK lost 1-0 in Czech on Thursday, to take the two-legged tie to extra time. With no further goals after 30 more minutes, goalkeeper Nathan Trott proved the hero as FCK won 2-1 in the shootout.

Discussing the game, Neestrup says: "We're through, that's the most important thing.

"I have the same feeling as in Prague last year, that the importance of this game was so great that it was not going to be like a normal match.

"But I want to give big praise to Nathan and (goalkeeper coach) Kim (Christensen). Kim's work, which for the second year in a row has been preparing a top keeper for the job that needs to be done, means the shootout wasn't left to chance.

"Of course we are not satisfied with the performance, especially not the first 60 minutes, but it got better afterwards. We were focused on our task, both before the game and during the intervals, that we had to dig deep. And we dug even deeper than last year in Prague.

"All our substitutes contributed and yes, we would have liked to have done better than we did, but the main thing was just to progress."

Next up for FCK is a home clash with Viborg on Sunday, before the Lions host Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock in the Conference League playoff round.

The first leg takes place in Parken on 22 August, with the return journey in Scotland penned in for a week later.

"Now we look forward to Viborg in Parken on Sunday and Kilmarnock next Thursday, where we hope and believe that we can play with less pressure, which probably affected us quite a bit today," adds Neestrup.