Ståle: We might change style for Porto game

Ståle Solbakken admits FC Copenhagen may change their attacking style for tonight’s Champions League game with Porto.

FCK are without centre-forwards Andreas Cornelius and Federico Santander for the crucial Group G clash.

Cornelius suffered a hamstring injury in the 2-1 win over Aalborg on Friday, while Santander has not recovered from a thigh strain picked up on international duty.

Andrija Pavlovic is tipped to start up top but Ståle would not reveal if the Serbia international will have a strike partner.

“We are one of the few teams in the Champions League group stages that has consistently played with two forwards,” Ståle said.

“We have varied little how wide we play in a sort of 4–2-2-2 formation to give more space.

“We do not change the basic formation in the morning, but it is clear that our offensive game will be different, regardless of who will be up there with Pavlovic.”

Discussing his options up front, Ståle confirmed he could play a makeshift attacker alongside Pavlovic.

“Rasmus Falk played in the attack as recently as Tuesday for the reserve team, and Benjamin Verbic did so in the majority of the match in Aalborg - and Youssef Toutouh has also played the position before,” Ståle said.

“We'll play faster with more movement and more link-up play up the field.

“However, one should remember that Corner and Santander are not like the all-time top scorers in the Champions League - they have scored only one goal each.

“And Pavlovic was one of those who helped us reach the group stage by scoring in the home qualifier against APOEL.

“We'll probably see more short passes and fewer high crosses. Their defence will probably find it easier to clear balls than if they were up against Corner and Santander.

“Pavlovic played a half for Serbia on Tuesday, and he got the whole match in Aalborg, where he was good with the ball, even if he did not have any open chances, so he helped the team with his performance.”

FCK.dk also caught up with the Lions players ahead of tonight’s 20:45 kick off in Telia Parken.

William Kvist:

“We will never be favourites against a team like FC Porto.

“If we play against them 10 times, they will win most matches. Man for man, they have a better squad, but of course that does not mean anything and we are at home.

“There was of course no one who believed that Donald Trump would win…”.

Mathias Zanka:

“Our strength in European is that we are better organised than many other sides.

“We are better as a team rather than as individuals.”

Thomas Delaney:

“Porto are better now than when we met them in the first match, and I see them as the best-performing team in the group.”