On the eve of F.C. Copenhagen’s final match of the UEFA Champions League group stage, head coach Ståle Solbakken spoke to the assorted press about his hopes for the game and expectations of opponents Panathinaikos:
by Joe Short
- We have to do this ourselves. Barcelona have picked a squad that could lose tomorrow night, so we have to win. It’s the most important game in the club’s history. Now we are on the verge of writing history, and it can’t get more important than that.
Although the prize of a place in the last 16 of the competition is close at hand, Solbakken warned that his side should not take Panathinaikos – who cannot qualify for either the last 16 or the UEFA Europa League – as easy opponents:
- There is a danger that when you meet a team that can’t reach the next stage of either competition, they could play with great freedom. We have to be careful and concentrate for the entire match. If we go through to the next round, there will be a completely different kind of pressure that we haven’t felt before. We are supposed to win every game in the Danish league, and that is big pressure, but this is different.
On the fitness of Mikael Antonsson, who had to be substituted before half time after complaining of chest pains:
- Maybe he is a risk for the game, but I am taking that risk. If he says he can play, he should play.
The players trained down on the PARKEN pitch, and all seemed optimistic yet cautious about the game ahead:
Mikael Antonsson
- I expect a great atmosphere in PARKEN, we have a fantastic support from the stands. Panathinaikos has no chance in the group stage now, but they come with a new coach; I suppose the players that start will do everything they can to convince the new coach that they have a chance in their next match. I hope we get an early goal, and thus cause them to play with less intensity. Conversely, we also know that even though it’s 0-0 after 89 minutes, we can still possibly win the match.
William Kvist
- I’m not scared about the game. We’re used to the pressure and we perform under that pressure regularly. We have coped with each game very well, but of course this game is very important.
Johan Wiland
- It becomes a very important game for the club, but we do as we usually do, and play our own game, so we have good chances to win the match. I will have Antonsson front of me and it's good for him, I am used that, and it's a good feeling to have him in central defense. I am counting on a good atmosphere in the PARKEN; the support will be very important to us.
