FCK fall to first-leg defeat

F.C. Copenhagen lost 2-0 to Silkeborg IF in the first leg of the Danish Cup quarter-final in Parken on Wednesday.

The reverse tie is scheduled for 7pm on Saturday and FCK head coach Jacob Neestrup gave his reaction after the defeat.

"Apart from the first 15-20 minutes, it was our worst performance in the whole of 2023," said the boss.

"I can't explain how we can drop so far in level, but we were simply not present for 70 minutes of the game and we were nowhere near coming back after their goal.

"In the last two games against Viborg and AGF, we can argue that the performance was okay, because although it is obviously not okay to lose, we created the chances we needed to win both games. But today it wasn't even a matter of sticking it out and missing chances, we were simply far below our target level.

"We had fantastic support from the stands considering how bad we were but the only positive thing I can say is that we didn't lose by any more than 2-0. Now it's all about going to Silkeborg on Saturday and trying to win, and we have to do that first and foremost by scoring the first goal, regardless of whether it's at the start or the end of the game.

"It is difficult, but not insurmountable to overturn 2-0, but we still have a lot of respect for Silkeborg, because even if we talk a lot about how bad we were today, that's with no disrespect for what they are doing.

"It's good that there's not much time before we can look to avenge this result, and even if the games are close we haven't seen any signs of wear and tear. It is clear that it is demanding, both physically and mentally, with this long period of two games a week. But that is how we want it to be, and therefore we rotate the team from game to game. In any case, it is neither an apology nor an explanation for what we delivered today."