Champions League reaction

04/08 2016 09:23

Ståle Solbakken admitted he was reminded of the 2010/11 Champions League season during FC Copenhagen’s 3-0 win over Astra Giurgiu last night.

The Lions secured safe passage to the playoff qualification round with a 4-1 aggregate result over the Romanian champions.

Two goals from Andreas Cornelius and a Federico Santander strike secured the win before the break.

And Ståle was delighted with the first-half display, harkening back to the campaign five years ago when Copenhagen reached the Champions League last-16.

“That was probably the best 45 minutes an FCK team has played since the 2010/11 season,” Ståle told fck.dk.

“It was a perfect half. Astra were not bad, we were just better and played at a very, very high level.

“This team has taken some giant strides since last season.

“Our offensive play is much better now, while the defence has long been in place.”

Cornelius was named man of the match in Telia Parken with 85 per cent of the votes.

But he didn’t play the full 90 minutes as he came off with a calf strain that will be fully assessed by FCK’s medical team this week.

“It really was a great match to play,” Cornelius said. “We put a lot of pressure on them and especially in the first half, which may be the best display this team has produced.”

The win also ensured Copenhagen will at least play in the Europa League group stage this season, although right-back Peter Ankersen, who set up Cornelius’ first goal, of course wants Champions League football.

“This is very much our own reward after the excellent first half where we could easily have led 5-0,” Ankersen said.

“It's one of the best first halves we’ve played. The second half was a little messy but that is sometimes how matches go.

“The most important thing is that we have now reached one of the season's main objectives, which was to get into a group stage - but of course we’ll now push for the Champions League.”

Left-back Ludwig Augustinsson passed a late fitness test to make Ståle’s starting XI and rewarded the manager’s faith by being instrumental in two of the Lions’ goals.

“Yes, the ankle felt fine today, so it was not a problem,” the Swede said.

“And like the others, I also think our first half was our best in several years.

“We really hit the level that we want to play at.

“But we also must perform at our best when the pressure is high - and there will be many other teams that make it hard for us here in Telia Parken.”