Ståle – Post-match press conference

Following FC Copenhagen’s brave exit from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Chelsea yesterday, head coach Ståle Solbakken held his routine post-match press conference to discuss the highs and lows of a European campaign that will stay in the minds of supporters for years to come:

by Joe Short
- I must congratulate Chelsea with their win. They were the best team over the two games. I’m very proud of what we have done in this campaign as we have played eight games and seven of them have been really good. We were not brilliant in PARKEN against Chelsea, where we struggled after the winter break; but the other seven games have been brilliant for us. It has been a great experience and we just have to admit that we lost to a better team.

- Had we done a job in PARKEN it could have been different but obviously we could also talk about Dame N’Doye’s free kick going in. It could have changed the psychology of the game; you don’t know how teams react. It could have been a shock for Chelsea.

- They are a little bit stronger than us in all areas. Many of my players played up to their best today. The central defenders were very, very good. We had a safe goalkeeper. Some played in unusual positions due to suspension, so overall I am very proud of my team.

Solbakken took time to reflect on the result itself, and put the draw in context with the overall campaign:


- It was a class performance coming here and getting the draw. However, we haven’t got that last push. We had it during the autumn against Barcelona; we had that last bit of power to break through their defence. At home against Barcelona we created chances, as well as against Kazan and Panathinaikos. However, this Chelsea defence can all handle themselves individually. We didn’t really have the luck or the quality either. Every time we broke through it was bad finishing that let us down. I simply think we weren’t good enough; it’s about quality. However, we reached our top level today and I am very proud of what we have done. We kept a clean sheet here, and we counter attacked well.

- Obviously when it’s at the knockout stage it’s a bit different to comment on a draw, but it’s still a very good result for us. It’s the second time we have come away from a big game in the Champions League with a point – if you can call it a point – so we are very happy with that. This game will look good within the history of Copenhagen for years to come.

The manager also reassured FCK fans on their potential for another European adventure next season:


- There’s nothing that suggests FCK can’t get to this stage of the tournament next season. We had the toughest draw possible to qualify: playing Borisov and Rosenborg, who were both seeded first in the draws. We had the toughest competition to get into the group stage, where we met teams that were all champions in their countries. I can’t see any reason why FC Copenhagen shouldn’t be a regular fixture in the Champions League.