Neestrup: 'Still something to play for'

F.C. Copenhagen head coach Jacob Neestrup admits next week's UEFA Conference League last-16 away leg at Chelsea will be difficult but believes his side is still in the contest following Thursday's 2-1 defeat in Parken.

Gabriel Pereira scored with 10 minutes remaining to halve the deficit on the night after Chelsea had taken a two-goal lead.

The Lions head to Stamford Bridge next week and Neestrup reflected on the positives.

"Gabriel's goal makes a huge difference, because now there is still something to play for in a week," he said. "It will be difficult, very difficult, but it is not impossible.

"We will go there and try to take our chance. We did it against Heidenheim, but Chelsea are of course a more difficult opponent to beat on their own pitch."

Reflecting on the first leg, Neestrup said: "There is nothing we could have done much differently. It's a match that could easily have ended 0-0 or 1-1, because they had one chance and scored two goals - which is great, I have great respect for that - while we had two chances and scored one.

"On the other hand, I'm pleased that we kept our composure, both after their first and second goals, and that's what gave us the opportunity to come back. It's not the first time this season that Gabriel has headed a ball into the net like that, it's just one of his strengths."

Neestrup opted for a formation change from earlier in the season, with three centre-backs and two wing-backs, which the boss called 5-2-3 or 5-4-1 at times.

"It worked best in the games against Manchester City, and we think that Chelsea's breakthrough strategy was a bit reminiscent of theirs, so that's why we chose the formation today, where Kevin Diks was in the central role and pushed up as a number 6, and he did that really well, and that also contributed to the fact that they didn't score too many," said the boss.

In midfield, William Clem and Victor Froholdt started again, just like in Heidenheim, and the head coach was very pleased with their efforts.

"They are young, great talents, but have a lot of experience from the Champions League last-16 against Manchester City," he said. "We can afford to have high expectations of them. They delivered their job excellently today, complementing each other well, both with and without the ball. Clem with the calmer overview and Froholdt with high intensity and energy.

"There were many other good performances and I'm looking forward to seeing what this team can achieve in the next 12 to 18 months, because we are still in the process of building it up. It is no longer a new team, but we have not peaked yet.

"But now it's time to and prepare for another important game on Sunday against Sønderjyske, and then we have to look at how we can come up with a plan that can keep the return match alive for as long as possible. I don't know if you can really call it a miracle if we go through, but we're at least going there with the mindset that we have to play our hand."