FCK Weekly News: 8th – 14th November

by Joe Short

A brace from Todi Jónsson and Lennart Lynge Larsen’s late third secured the victory for the team, who qualified for the final against SønderjyskE – to be played on Saturday in Haderslev. SønderjyskE beat Odense 2-0 to reach the final, having won all their autumn matches in the run-in to Saturday’s game.

With the end of autumn comes the winding down of the youth football leagues for the Christmas break, and so FCK.DK met up with the U14 and U15 coaches to discuss the progress of Copenhagen’s young starlets:

- We have now been running for three months with the new boys in the School of Excellence, explained U14 coach Jannick Breuning. The boys are now getting used to the new environment, they're getting used to their schooling and the fact it will put much higher demands on them – and this applies both on and off the pitch. It definitely has taken some time for the players to get accustomed to our way of training, and sometimes we have two rounds of training in a day.

- We have some players on an individual level who have progressed a lot – but also as a team we are developing well.

Breuning: - They must get used to the concept we play by

Jannick Breuning then went on to discuss the FCK philosophy that is taught throughout the age groups:

- What also concerns us here at school is to create consistency between the teams. Players must learn to do things the way we do it here in the School of Excellence. They must get used to the concept we play by, because when it is instilled, they will – for example – be able to be moved up and play a game for the U15s without us having to explain the system and the tactics, and can therefore rely on constantly changing teams without any problems.

Dennis Simonsen, coach of the U15 side at the School of Excellence, was also full of praise for his squad and their achievements this autumn:

- I can rejoice that the players continue to evolve in relation to the process they are going through here. They were U14s last year, and now they are starting with their U15 football that lasts only the same short period of time, so it isn’t long before they become a part of the U17 squad.

- We’ve got to develop players and prepare them to continue on to higher and higher levels. As for our season we were second in the league (10 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat). And although we would have liked to have been in first place, it is as I say not the most important thing; it is to develop players – that's what we coaches are hired for.

Simonsen: - We must try to develop ‘the best’ in players

As for how the young squads maintain their training over the winter months, Simonsen explained the potential matches up ahead:

- For us it is important to play as many matches as possible (in the winter), preferably matches at the highest possible level. We must try to develop ‘the best’ in players, which is something we have a great opportunity to do when we face top teams from both the Danish and Swedish leagues, and from a number of very strong international teams.

Johnny Thomsen predicts tight game

In Thursday’s edition of the Lion Hour radio show, SønderjyskE’s Johnny Thomsen was on the phone from Haderslev to discuss F.C. Copenhagen’s visit to the Jutland side:

- We are looking forward to the match on Sunday, but we also realize that it will be difficult, although we have played some close games against FCK. We must play our own game to succeed and avoid personal mistakes, while hopefully FCK fail to hit their top level; then I think we can get something. My guess on the result is 1-1, I think it is realistic and we will be happy with it.

As it turned out, Thomsen was not wrong is his prediction of a close game, as SønderjyskE and FCK battled out an enthralling 3-3 draw in front of 4,300 spectators. A first half goal from Rasmus Hansen gave SønderjyskE the lead, which was doubled in the 48^th minute by Mustafa Kucukovic.

Quick exchanges of goals

The Lions would not be tamed however, and Dame N’Doye proved why he is joint top scorer in the Superliga this season with a header on 52 minutes to halve the deficit. FCK looked menacing and hungry for another goal, and yet just before the hour mark, Kenneth Fabricius crept through Copenhagen’s central defensive partnership to squeeze in a third for the home side.

At 3-1 the game looked almost dead and buried, as SønderjyskE appeared on the brink of condemning FCK to their first league defeat of the season. However, a quick retaliation from Martin Vingaard just five minutes after the restart presented a nervous finale to the game. Indeed, Copenhagen squandered numerous chances as SønderjyskE closed in on al three points.

And yet, in a climax reminiscent of the Lions’ last-gasp winner against Lyngby BK in October, coach Ståle Solbakken’s side refused to be brushed aside, as N’Doye met an Oscar Wendt cross to equalise for the travelling club.

Solbakken: - We’re really good offensively

After the game, Solbakken reflected on the 3-3 draw as something his side should be pleased with:

- The first 40 minutes were not good; there was too little pace and energy in the team, especially our offensive players who lacked any breakthrough force. But we played a good second half, although their third goal – of course – should have been averted. We're really good offensively: creating many chances and should of course have won the match. But when you are behind 1-3 and only equalize in the final minute, you should of course be happy.

The FCK squad now have another week before their next game, against FC Nordsjælland in PARKEN on Sunday; while some of the squad may find themselves in the international fray this Wednesday, with national sides going to friendly battle throughout Europe.