Johansson targets U19s win over Man Utd in Youth League

F.C. Copenhagen U19s seek to continue their 100 percent start to the UEFA Youth League on Tuesday when facing Manchester United U19s in Leigh.

The Young Lions have already beaten Galatasaray (5-1) and Bayern Munich (3-2) this season and top Group A heading into their first game of the group stage.

And U19 head coach Alfred Johansson has a squad of 20 players heading to Manchester for the encounter.

"It's great that we are currently competing for top spot in the group," says Johansson.

"We know that it can be difficult to play away in the Youth League, we learned that last year when we met Manchester City, where it was a tough game. But on the other hand we are also really good ourselves.

"That's why the expectations after the first games are that we can go there and perform well, and we're definitely going for the three points."

No Sahsah in the side
Noah Sahsah scored the decisive goal against Bayern but the team will have to do without the winger for the rest of the season, as he will undergo surgery on Wednesday for a serious knee injury.

"It's terrible with that injury, first of all for Sahsah himself, but I know he has a lot of faith in the other guys in the team," adds Johansson.

"We all do and I'm sure everyone is keen to show that we can perform really well with the group we have available now.

"In addition to Sahsah, Tamás Szücs is out with a minor injury, but we expect him to be ready again on Saturday, and Oliver Højer has been out for a long time but has started training with the team."

Internationals back in the squad
Several of the U19 players got playing time in the first team's two training matches during the international break, and that experience has proved useful for their development.

"We know that we have many talented players. Some were away during the international break playing difficult games in Europe, and some got the opportunity to play at senior level with the first team," says Johansson.

"It's great that they get the opportunity where they can play at a different pace and against older players. It gives them confidence, but it can also be a wake-up call for what it takes to reach the next level. It is only positive to gain those experiences."

Manchester United have won one and lost one from their first two Youth League games and have played in slightly different ways in the two games.

"They've changed a bit both in the way they press and in the way they build up, but it doesn't matter too much," adds Johansson.

"We are used to meeting many different teams, so the players are accustomed with dealing with several ways of playing."

FCK U19s squad to face Manchester United U19s
1 Theo Sander
2 Hjalte Bidstrup
3 Tristan Fynbo Birch
4 Aksel Halsgaard
5 Ethan Amundsen-Day
6 Victor Froholdt
7 Thomas Jørgensen
8 Emil Højlund
9 Amin Chiakha
12 Nicolai Blicher
13 Andreas Clasen
15 Cornelius Olsson
16 Hunor Vajk Németh
14 Jonathan Moalem
17 Neo Jönsson
19 Queyrell Tchicamboud
20 Oscar Buur
21 Galdur Gudmundsson
22 Thomas Bjørn Miezan
26 William Glindtvad