Jacob Neestrup

Neestrup: We're top… but there are still nine games left

F.C. Copenhagen head coach Jacob Neestrup was delighted with the Lions' 2-1 victory over FC  Nordsjælland, which lifted the team to the top of the Danish Superliga for the first time under his management.

Mohamed Daramy and Viktor Claesson got the goals for FCK in front of more than 30,000 fans.

Discussing the win, Neestrup said: "First place is where F.C. Copenhagen should be, but we haven't won anything yet, so we have to make sure we are also there after 32 games played.
 
"Today's was a top game but not a title-defining match, because with nine rounds to go it is still close at the top. Viborg are also there and had a great result today, so it's not just between us and Nordsjælland. AGF won't be too far away if they win on Monday.
 
"But of course the opportunities increase every time we win, regardless of who we play against, but for me it's about going out and delivering again in Vejle on Thursday, and then we have another away game in Randers on Monday.

"Today, I think Nordsjælland were better than us in the first half, even if we weren't bad, and we also had more chances. But they prepared well. We know how they can play through us when we press them, and we have to praise them for that.

"But one of our strengths is that we don't panic in the periods when it gets difficult. We have a very strong collective unity that believes in each other, and when you look at our second half, I think that we were the best today over the whole 90 minutes and therefore deserved to win."

Mohamed Daramy was voted the Carlsberg Man of the Match once again for the Lions, but Neestrup also wanted to praise the four substitutes who came on and made a difference after the break.

And he reserved special praise for Peter Ankersen.

"(Peter) has had many disappointments, but has trained well every day and supported everyone. He has helped Elias (Jelert) get where he is today, and I really believe he went into today's game and showed what type of person he is," said Neestrup.

"He also played a part in the winning goal with his cross in exactly the space we wanted him in."

The winning goal was initially credited to Diogo Gonçalves, but replays show the ball clipped Viktor Claesson on the way to the net. You can check out the goals from Sunday's game here!