Neestrup looks ahead to City clash
F.C. Copenhagen head coach Jacob Neestrup says he expects a better performance from his players when they come up against Manchester City in Parken on Tuesday, compared to last week.
FCK lost 5-0 to the English champions at the City of Manchester Stadium, and host the reverse UEFA Champions League group fixture on Tuesday evening.
Parken is expected to be full for another atmospheric European evening under the lights.
And Neestrup believes his side will prove a stern test for City.
"I expect an extremely difficult match again," said Neestrup. "We have of course looked at some of the things we can do better, and at the same time it's also about limiting what they are good at.
"City will undoubtedly have a lot of possession again, but we will hopefully get more periods where we have the ball at our feet, and it's here where it's important that we are a little more calm on the ball, because that way we can also remove four or five percent of their possession and have a slightly closer match than last time.
"The fact we're playing in Parken in front of our own fans, of course that also makes a difference."
FCK had a couple of opportunities to score in Manchester last week – not least when Valdemar Lund glanced a header from a corner narrowly wide.
Discussing the game, Neestrup said: "Yes, we probably had three or four half chances. Mukairu had one effort, and from the corner Valdemar headed straight past [the far post]. So we have to be good at our finishing and set pieces. But also on their set pieces, because unfortunately we conceded one ourselves on a second ball after a corner, and we also gave them a penalty, so there are things we can improve."
Neestrup was also asked about not playing Andreas Cornelius in Manchester, and his plans for the team on Tuesday, what with the derby against Brøndby coming up this weekend too.
He said: "A derby is always hugely important, but in terms of saving players, there are five days after the City game until Sunday. It is a different situation than last week, when we only got home late on Wednesday night and had fewer days before the Nordsjælland game.
"And we have more injuries now, so we have to play with whatever is available on the day."
Neestrup was then asked in his pre-match press conference about the development of the team, in relation to playing City.
His response was: "It doesn't make sense to watch all the matches at once, because they are two different worlds. Not because it's the Champions League, but because it's Manchester City.
"I think our second half against AGF last Sunday was really good, and on Saturday against Nordsjælland we also did a lot of good things, but the good and bad things from the City game are difficult to include in that assessment. That team is so good that it provides a picture of the match that is just so far from what we encounter in the Superliga."
Neestrup also offered an update on the injury list on Monday afternoon, saying: "Boilesen is back, but Corner is out for a few weeks, and it will probably last a little longer with Vavro. So yes, we have plenty out right now, but you just have to remember that these are very different injuries, from Zeca's knee injury to impact injuries and muscle injuries.
"But we always evaluate whether there is anything we can do differently in all aspects of life, training, travel, treatment, etc., but as I said, the injuries have occurred for many different reasons."