FCK beat Mjällby AIF 5-3 in first summer training match
F.C. Copenhagen's preparations for the new season got off to a winning start on Saturday with a 5-3 result over Swedish champions Mjällby AIF at the Lions' Number 10 training ground.
Youssoufa Moukoko bagged a first-half hat trick before Dominik Sarapata and Andreas Cornelius found the net late on.
It was the first game for the team after most of the players returned to training last Sunday from their summer break.
Reflecting on the performance, head coach Bo Svensson said: "I saw a lot of good things today, but of course we are never happy when we concede three goals, two of which are due to big individual mistakes.
"I think we were the best team on the pitch against the champions of the Swedish league that starts up again next week, while we are only just starting our first week of training.
"We found the solutions over time, both offensively and defensively, and we had many good performances from the young players and from the older players, who did what was asked of them.
"We also had no injuries, so a good end to the first week. And we know that we are probably not the squad that will play through the season, but in terms of what we are working on now and what we were focused on today, it was good.
"Of course, there were some of the youngsters who had to adjust to the pace, but they quickly found that they could play. They entered the challenges as they should and spent the minutes getting to know how we play, and that just confirms the good impression we have had on the training pitch this week."
The match appeared to be heading to a 3-3 draw until the final moments, and the head coach was particularly pleased with Sarapata's display.
"I'm super happy for him," said Svensson. "I know it was only a training match, but he had a decisive moment, where he single-handedly created the goal to make it 4-3. After a difficult period, we're trying to help him as best we can, but actions like that, where he goes and decides a match like that, I'm happy for him.
"Of course I'm also happy about Moukoko's hat-trick, and we all know his strengths. He did well today, and there were a lot of good performances overall, where we also saw Mads as a central defender."
The squad has a day off on Sunday, and then there is a single training session at Number 10 before the trip to Austria on Tuesday.
