Clausen: - We can beat FCK
On Wednesday evening FC Copenhagen play their last away game of the season, at TRE-FOR Park in Odense. Their opponents – OB – can clinch second place with a win, but the Funen side will probably also like to finish their final home game with a flurry of goals against the Danish champions, since they lost the season's first two matches.
by Joe Short
After the full time whistle on Sunday – where OB drew 3-3 with AC Horsens – FCK.DK held an interview with OB’s head coach Henrik Clausen:
It has probably not gone as smoothly as OB would have liked this spring. Do you think you can maintain second place?
- We have not delivered a good game every time, but the bottom line is we have still been solid. We have gained points, especially if we compare with our direct competitors, and in some of the games our performances have been good, while in other games it has probably been hard work that has given us the wins.
- There has been a match or two where we have not worked so well, but in most other games we have been reasonably solid, although this has obviously not been on a par with Barcelona, or for that matter, with Copenhagen.
How do you think the match will go on Wednesday?
- We expect a lot of spectators, just as we've had most of the spring. We anticipate that many will turn up to support us in the battle for second place, but also to see Copenhagen, and hopefully the greater attendance will help us to play our best.
- Although Copenhagen have been champions for so long, they have been good to keep their focus, so it will not be easy, but we will play our game. We will try to stop the gossip about who should be number two in the Superliga. I think it will be a close battle, because I am pretty sure that although we are probably not going to outplay FCK, we can beat them on a good day.
What ‘fears’ you most about Copenhagen? Is it Dame N'Doye, for he will want to score against OB?
- No, there is nothing special we fear. We know very well that Dame N'Doye is a profile, but he is just one of many profiles at Copenhagen. We must have great respect for the FCK collective, something we gained in the autumn, partly because we lost 0-5.
- If at first FCK start with their high tempo, while they are solid at the back and good offensively, we could be in trouble. Copenhagen have many good players, from goalkeeper to strikers, and overall they’re looking good, so what we are probably most worried about is the team collective, especially if it works all the way through the squad.
FC Copenhagen v OB
The two sides have met 63 times, and here Copenhagen have won 27 times, 19 games have ended as a draw while OB have claimed the remaining 17.
30 of the 63 matches have been played away from home, and of these, FC Copenhagen have won 13 matches, seven been drawn and 10 of the matches have gone to OB. The goal aggregate away from PARKEN is a narrow 42-39 lead for FCK, while the overall aggregate of 92-74 looks somewhat better.
Copenhagen have won their last four games against OB, conceding only two goals: 2-0, 2-0, 3-2 and 5-0. In those four matches Dame N'Doye bagged six goals.
The latest showdown between Copenhagen and OB was played in October: a game many FCK fans will remember with joy. The lions won 5-0, with César Santin scoring a hat trick, Martin Vingaard making it 2-0 between two Santin goals. N'Doye struck the fourth before Santin added a finishing touch to a resplendent performance in PARKEN.
