FCK 0-0 Sparta Prague: Reaction

F.C. Copenhagen head coach Jacob Neestrup believes his side should have won Tuesday's goalless draw with Sparta Prague but that the tie isn't over heading into next week's reverse leg.

The Lions were held to a stalemate in Parken during the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round clash, and will meet Sparta Prague in the Czech capital next week for a chance to reach the playoffs.

"Of course I'm sorry that we don't win the game, because we had the chances to do so. Especially in the last part of the game, where we put a lot of pressure on them," said Neestrup afterwards.

"However, I recognise that they could also have scored before the break, where we made some big individual mistakes, but those were also the only chances we gave away.

"So I think overall this was a match that we could have won by a single goal. But the most important thing is that we put up a great fight. The team is in a good rhythm and we were more cynical in our approach, which was something we wanted to correct after the Breidablik game.

"Collectively, we were better with out link-up play, and we were difficult to play against because we didn't give them many big chances ourselves.

"As the second half progressed, we pushed them further and further back, and looking at the whole game we created four big chances. Apart from a few where the crossbar was just a little too low, (Peter) Vindahl made a fantastic save, but that's the number of chances you can expect in a Champions League match at this level against a team that defends well."

Next up for FCK is a home tie against OB on Friday, before attention turns to next Tuesday's reverse leg in Prague.

"There was nothing that surprised us in the way they played," added Neestrup. "It was as we had analysed and expected, but of course it could well be another match down there, where we will come under pressure at times. But I believe 100 percent that we can go there and win.

"As I said to the players after the game, we were also in a situation in the spring where we lost at home to Brøndby but, even though we were missing six or seven regular players, we won at their place a few games later. We are in a much better place as a team now, and we have to take that with us (to Prague).

"But now we put the Champions League aside until Saturday, because there is another important match already on Friday against OB, and we have to have all our focus there in the next few days to get another victory."