Benjamin Verbic

Ståle: Double disappointment after Brøndby loss

Ståle Solbakken says challenged his F.C. Copenhagen players to put in the hard work to get results on the pitch.

FCK lost 1-0 to Brøndby on Sunday thanks to a late Simon Tibbling goal in west Copenhagen.

It leaves the Lions eighth in the Alka Superliga after four games and seven points off the pace of leaders FC Nordsjælland.

"I'm most frustrated by the second half display,” Ståle said.

“Brøndby did well in the first half but we recovered after the first 20 minutes. But in the second half we didn’t have the strength to take advantage when they lost possession.

“At the same time we didn’t shut them down. There’s still a piece missing from being the level we must be at. However, it is not entirely bad. We are ready for another European group campaign - but in the Alka Superliga we would like to have had three or four more points.”

One area Ståle is concerned about is going forward, where FCK were restricted to just a handful of openings.

"Brøndby conducted the match much better than us today, and it's not so much the result that worries me, because it can happen,” Ståle said.

“But we did not even create chances and we're not settling well on the ball. Had we worked better in the game we’d be better as a team. We will work at the training ground - work hard every day!”

Ståle also discussed the issue of crowd trouble at the end of the game.

"It's boring what's happening, it's boring for our club and for football in general,” he said.

“I’m sorry for F.C. Copenhagen, and as CEO Anders Hørsholt says, we'll find the culprits through the police or via our own fans.

“It seemed a bit planned as if a group had prepared to be there and I hope care is taken to find those guilty.

"Among the players there is a double disappointment, partly over our performance on the pitch but also over our supporters' behaviour. No one should behave like that at a stadium.”