Back in business!
After two consecutive losses in Europe, a well-deserved win against Sparta Prague put F.C. Copenhagen right back into European contention. In group K of the UEFA Europa League, where only two teams progress to the knockout stages, they are currently tied for second with Cluj of Romania.
By Lars Kristensen
In a broader perspective however, tonight’s win was perhaps even more important because - as it comes on top of back-to-back wins in the domestic league - it adds even further to present indications of the team steadily returning to form.
Ståle Solbakken
- I am satisfied with the way we win today. Mentally, we really are a very strong team because in a club as big as this a crisis always seems so much worse. Though things did not run as smoothly in front as one might have hoped we compensated for this through hard fight and by working together as a true team.
Jesper Grønkjær
- We performed very well tonight. Historically, Sparta Prague is a great team, a team with many Champions League participations to its credit, but we really earned this win. I think we have risen from the defeat against APOEL and we certainly established that at home we are in fact a great side when playing in Europe. We have taken another step forward and it was absolutely essential for the players and the whole club as such to demonstrate that we still got it!
Dame N’Doye
- We are three great players on top and clearly it is up to Ståle to decide who gets to play but I really was not that surprised that he included me in the line-up. I am of course delighted that my goal got us the win since the game was of such tremendous importance but after the defeat in Cluj it was also very good for me, personally. Anyway, now we are determined to go out and win some more games!
In Europe, F.C. Copenhagen now faces a thrilling double encounter against the top seed, PSV Eindhoven. Of immediate importance however, and just as exhilarating, is Sunday’s top clash against Esbjerg, the surprise leader of this year’s SAS Liga. That game kicks off at 16:00 CET at the PARKEN Stadium and F.C. Copenhagen must continue the current winning trend in order to close the gap towards the top spot.
Game stats:
F.C. Copenhagen – AC Sparta Prague 1-0 (1-0)
1-0 N’Doye (25)
Spectators: 15,043
