Svensson looking forward to 'tough yet exciting' schedule
F.C. Copenhagen return to action on Sunday with a trip to FC Midtjylland in the Danish Superliga – and head coach Bo Svensson is looking forward to club football starting again after the extended international break.
The Lions haven't played a competitive game since winning the derby 1-0 at Brøndby on 20 September and are five points clear at the top of the table.
There are nine games coming up between now and the November international break – including FCK's opening matches of the UEFA Conference League's league phase.
And now, with all players back at Number 10, Svensson is keen to get going.
“When you have these breaks, you hold your breath and wait to see if the players return safe and sound. When you look at where Suzuki has been, or where Marcos has played, we know it places a heavy burden on them – not just physically, but mentally too,” says the head coach.
While the international players have been out in the wider world playing crucial matches, the rest of the squad enjoyed a seven-day break, which included a friendly match in Hamburg against HSV.
“We’ve made good use of the time," adds Svensson. "We had a good match in Hamburg – and, above all, a great experience. Now, we’re ready to get on with the matches that really matter. We look forward to the tough yet exciting schedule ahead of us.”
A reminder of the team's identity
The first task once the whole group is gathered on Friday will be to assess the players' condition and plan the upcoming match schedule. After that, the focus shifts to rediscovering the form that has brought the team to where it is today.
“First and foremost, I need to get a feel for the group and hear from the players what it’s been like being away," says Svensson. "Many of them have been gone for three weeks facing completely different challenges; we don’t exactly need to hit the reset button and start from scratch, but we do need to remind each other of the values we stand for and how we want to play.
“Midtjylland have a really strong team and have some obvious strengths that we’ll have to see if we can handle. But we also have things we do really well – things that pose a challenge for any team, including Midtjylland.
“So, while we respect the challenge awaiting us, we also have faith in our own abilities, and the feeling right now is good.”
Ready for a busy autumn
The fixture schedule moves quickly after Sunday’s 6pm kick off at FCM. The Conference League campaign begins on Thursday with a home game against Braga, and from then on, the FCK men's first team will play every three or four days until the next international break.
“I think we’re well prepared," says Svensson. "But we’re well aware that there are a lot of matches ahead, the weather is getting colder, and the players are starting to accumulate a heavy workload.
"We can speculate about the future, but our focus has to be on the here and now. We aren’t the finished article yet and there are things we need to improve, but we have a solid foundation that poses a challenge for any opponent."
Positive squad update
Heading into this week’s training sessions, the injury situation looks promising overall. Asger Sørensen and Robert are following slightly modified training loads this week, and individual adjustments are being made for several other players as well.
“Things look positive on all fronts right now. But I think I’ll only be able to breathe easy once every player is fit and healthy here at the club,” adds Svensson.
FCM vs FCK kicks off at 6pm on Sunday, while tickets for Thursday's Conference League showdown with Braga in Parken are on sale now.