Neestrup: We just need that stroke of luck
F.C. Copenhagen head coach Jacob Neestrup admits he is disappointed the Lions couldn't hold on to beat FC Midtjylland on Saturday, but that there are positives to take from the 1-1 draw.
Viktor Claesson opened the scoring for FCK only for Evander to level the game in the second half. Claesson then missed a late penalty, while the hosts spurned numerous other chances to secure the winner.
"We are of course very disappointed that we didn't win today, but that's how it is when you miss a penalty and other big chances right at the end," says Neestrup.
"I really feel sorry for Claesson, because he played an excellent game for the team and led with great authority and great quality, but now of course it is the missed penalty that everyone talks about.
"But I would like to praise the team, because I think that, based on the context, we delivered an excellent performance, which I am very satisfied with. We are disappointed not to get three points against a really good opposition, who are enjoying a good period and who came into the game with arguably the stronger XI.
"We had great momentum in the first half and also at the start of the second half, but then they began to play to their best around the 55th minute until the equaliser. But we weren't bad in that period either, and we don't give away any chances until Evander found the corner of the net from long range.
"After the equaliser, you might have feared that they would just blow us away, but we neutralised them and chased a winning goal until the very end. And the chances were there, both from the penalty and in several other openings both before and after that. We're creating more than enough, and right now I just think we're lacking a bit of luck.
"But I understand that there are 30,000 fans who maybe go home disappointed today, but they have to trust what we are doing. Now we just have to survive the next three weeks, and then there will be a transfer window where we have to do the right moves in and out, and where we get some key players back and we get more time at the training ground, because we don't have that at the moment."