Neestrup: Tactical adjustments helped overcome Horsens
Jacob Neestrup has praised his F.C. Copenhagen players for their resilience after coming back from a goal down at Horsens to win 4-1 in the Danish Superliga on Sunday.
Denis Vavro, Hákon Haraldsson, Jordan Larsson and Elias Jelert all found the net in the second half to push FCK to within a point of top spot in the table.
Discussing the game afterwards, head coach Neestrup said: "We knew it was going to be difficult over here, and it didn't get any easier because we fell behind after just two minutes.
"The next 10 to 15 minutes after the goal I think we were OK, but generally they shut us down well before the break, and we were stretched and were pushed too much. So it was deserved enough that they led at half time.
"During the break, we discussed that there were still 45 or 50 minutes left and that we needed to get into their half more, where it hurts.
"We also made some tactical adjustments and pushed Lukas Lerager higher up, together with Viktor Claesson, and pulled Hákon further back. We also saw the result of that with a couple of the goals.
"The players went out and raised their level, and just as Horsens got a boost by scoring an early goal in the first half, we also quickly got started with Vavro's long shot in the second."
Indeed, the Lions scored three in six minutes to put the game beyond Horsens.
"I love that the players immediately went on the attack again and scored again – and then again – and suddenly the game was completely changed," added Neestrup.
"It's that mentality that means that if we don't close out the game definitively, then at least we can get a two-goal lead in the first 10 minutes after the break and end up winning again. And we must continue to have that mentality, because there are still 11 games to reach our goal of being Danish champions.
"We've had that goal all along, and I already said it from day one, when we were 10 points behind, and it hasn't changed. We haven't lost in the Superliga since, and we've won a long series of games in a row, and of course I'm super happy with that.
"I would have been just as satisfied if the others had also won all their matches, because of course we look at the table like everyone else. But our focus is still only on what we ourselves can affect."
Next up for FCK is a home clash against Viborg on Sunday. The club expects the game in Parken Stadium to sell out. But there are still a handful of tickets remaining for the game.
Newcomers to FCK can experience Parken for the first time. To find out more, read our How to Buy F.C. Copenhagen Tickets guide.