FCK v Molde press conference

19/09 2012 22:15

Head coach Ariel Jacobs answered questions in a packed pre-match press conference ahead of FC Copenhagen's UEFA Europa League clash with Norwegian side Molde FK.

By Joe Short

Speaking to Danish and Norwegian media on Wednesday evening, Jacobs suggested every club in this Europa League group have a chance of progressing to the knock-out stage:

- Stuttgart must be favourites to win the group, but otherwise I think it's pretty equal between the three other teams and I do not think anything will be decided after the first two or three matches.

The Molde clash is the first of six group matches in the Europa League, and Jacobs has great respect for the Norwegian champions and their path to the group stage:

- First, you know that good teams play European football. This applies not only us, but also to Molde. They must be a good team to beat Heerenveen over two qualifying games, and they are also at the forefront of the Norwegian league. They are doing well as a team, and they have some individualists who can make a difference. They have earned respect when you see how Ole Gunnar Solskjær has succeeded in developing the team in the time he has been coach.

Johan Wiland has been plagued by a thigh injury and sat out last Saturday's game, when FC Nordsjælland came to PARKEN. Jacobs revealed his relief that Wiland was not risked:

- It was clear after the victory that I was particularly pleased that we did not take any chances with Johan. He is coming back, and although he has only trained once he is fit to play. But we have a congested program in the coming weeks and I will wait until after today's training before I decide whether Johan will play tomorrow.

Later in the evening there was also a press conference for Molde head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær and the former FC Copenhagen player Magne Hoseth. A Norwegian journalist wanted to know if Solskjær feared Molde will suffer the same fate as Rosenborg and Stabæk, who in recent years have been knocked out of European football by the Lions:

- We are certainly not knocked out but this is a big challenge for us because we face a large club. I was here on a visit 18 months ago for the Chelsea match and it's really just unbelievable that we are about to play European football now. It will be fantastic.

The Norwegians may be without national player Magnus Eikrem, because according to Solskjær he is worn out and therefore needs resting. However, Pape Pate Diouf has the opportunity to show off his talents in a Molde shirt, where he is currently on loan from the Lions:

- Of course I have talked to him (Diouf) about individual players at FCK, but generally we are well prepared and have watched them both live and on DVD, so we have a good idea of how they play.