'We need solid team effort vs FCM'
F.C. Copenhagen head coach Jess Thorup says the teams needs to pull together and deliver a group effort to secure three points in Sunday's table-topping clash at FC Midtjylland.
FCK lead FCM in the Danish Superliga by three points heading into this 6pm fixture in Herning – the site of a 1-0 Lions back in March.
Thorup's men have already twice beaten FCM 1-0 this year and the boss is determined to secure another victory.
"We are halfway through the Championship Round and at the start we had a lead of three points also, says Thorup. "It is still a really good starting point for our goal of winning the championship.
"We have beaten FC Midtjylland 1-0 in our last two matches away and at home, so we have a good sense of what it takes to get three important points in Herning.
"It could have gone both ways when we met there last time, while we were clearly the best side in Parken, and it just shows that these fights live their own life and are usually settled on small margins.
"We have done well to edge them, but this requires a solid team effort, just like in our previous matches against them."
FCK and FCK each have five matches of the season remaining, with the Lions due to play Brøndby away from home next Sunday, before final ties with Silkeborg, Randers and AaB.
Thorup's side head into this fixture having lost 1-0 to Randers last time out.
And the boss is expecting a response.
"We have prepared the same for this game as we have for all others, regardless of the result in our last outing," says Thorup.
"We were not at all satisfied with the performance and the result against Randers on Sunday, and it wasn't just one thing that went wrong, but the accumulation of several things.
"But as usual, we evaluated the match at the beginning of the week and learned from it, both in joint and individual meetings. We've parked it and all our focus is now on Sunday's match and how to win it.
"We are looking forward to the game, where we can once again look forward to a sold-out away section, so we'll have a strong support from our many loyal fans who come to Herning."