Jess Thorup's first press conference

New F.C. Copenhagen head coach Jess Thorup spoke to the media in his first press conference on Monday after first meeting the Lions players and coaches Hjalte Nørregaard and Stefan Madsen.

Thorup watched on as the squad went through their paces at the Number 10 training ground, before heading to Parken Stadium to be officially presented as the new head coach.

And chairman of the board Bo Rygaard expressed his delight at getting their man on board.

"We have a very strong team, a strong technical director, strong support functions, we have William Kvist as a temporary solution, etc., so we are on a good foundation," he said.

"Therefore, our main focus was also to find a new head coach in the first place."

Thorup will for now refer to Kvist, who remains the temporary head of the football department.

And Thorup himself was on hand to describe his first day with the players at Number 10.

"During the first day I was just out on the training ground to observe, listen and talk, but I'm also (preparing to) lead the team on Wednesday against Avarta," he said.

"It was fantastic to be at Number 10 and meet the team. I have respect for the work that Hjalte has done, where he has delivered two fantastic victories and got energy back in the squad. That you could feel today.

"There are so many talented people that my job is not to be part of everything. My job is to lead and bring out the best in all people."

Thorup also discussed his relationship with departed head coach Ståle Solbakken, whom he knew well from their time together at HamKam, where Thorup played half a year under Ståle when he was coach.

"First and foremost, I have great respect for what has been done. The history of FCK speaks its own language, and what Ståle has delivered in his time is not easy to follow," he said.

"I have a really good relationship with Ståle, and as a family we got close when our boys were in the same class together, so we built a friendship. But as competitors, as it has become over the years, it means I don't call him every week. I have not spoken to him in connection with this change."

About FCK DNA
The question of FCK's DNA came up in relation to how Thorup has played with his previous teams, and Bo Rygaard first took the opportunity to elaborate on the board's considerations about what lies behind the concept.

"It is important for the self-understanding at FCK that in everything we work with - also in parken and Lalandia - we will always compete with the best in the world," Rygaard said.

"That is, in everything we do, we will put in an enormous effort to be some of the best in the world. Even though we are not the ones who have the most money, we must always maintain a high level of quality in what we do.

"Thorup's professional and personal qualities support the FCK DNA, because they support the goal of playing with the best as well as our crystal clear ambition to bounce back and become Danish champions and get into Europe again."

Thorup himself added: "I played 4-4-2 at Ghent and we were the highest scoring team, but I have also played other systems. But you have to be careful when comparing DNA with playing style.

"I do not come here and dictate how a team should play, but look upon the qualities that are in the squad and create the system that best suits it. I think any coach with respect for himself should do that.

"I just need to take a look at the squad and the skills that are there, but I am a coach who has an offensive mindset. Our expression on the pitch must be offensive, forward-thinking, energetic - and it can be both with and without the ball. And we have to excite our fantastic fan base. That's the style I've always brought to the field, and I will do the same here."

Asked about the budget for the squad, Rygaard replied: "When the board thought it was time to change the situation with Ståle, we had invested the highest level ever in the player budget, so we had to a certain extent follow that international development.

"History shows that the board - that is to say, the owners - have never stood back when asked about something.

"But a desire for an increased player budget will always be something that comes from the football management, and then we will look at it. Immediately I cannot see the picture changing, and it is also a matter of investing properly. We have a well-functioning department with Frederik Leth and his scouting team, and the entire organisational basis, together with Jess, will feed into the investment needs that are presented to the board.

"But it is important to say that we have not held back on investing, as has been the case in some places. We have to invest to meet our goals and ambitions. That showed in the latest window with the addition of Mathias Zanka and Peter Ankersen. We must not invest too much, but invest what is needed."