Delaney looking forward to Cup showdown vs Aarhus Fremad

F.C. Copenhagen face Aarhus Fremad in the Danish Cup on Thursday afternoon – and midfielder Thomas Delaney is looking forward to the challenge in a competition he has plenty of experience playing in.

Delaney has won the Cup five times as an FCK player and could make his 33rd appearance in the competition on Thursday.

Should he feature, he will go one ahead of William Kvist for the most appearances in the Danish Cup for an FCK player.

"It’s that time of the season where there isn't much time for preparation, because we’re playing matches constantly," said Delaney.

"We’ve watched some video and gone through everything, but the training pitch probably isn't where we’re spending the most time right now.

"At this time of year, it’s mostly about recovery and playing matches – though, of course, we have gone over the tactics and how we want to handle various situations."

Touch challenge expected
Aarhus Fremad currently sit fifth in the 1st Division (Denmark's second tier) after 12 matches this season, and Delaney anticipates that Thursday's showdown will be closely contested.

"Fremad are a good side. They like to keep possession and play a very fluid style," he said.

"There’s constant rotation in their positioning, so we’ll need to be sharp in our pressing. We also need to dominate on the ball against a team that will also be looking to take control.

"It’s easy to sit here, look at F.C. Copenhagen, and think: 'Well, surely this should be a 3-0 win against a team that doesn't play in the Superliga.'

"But history tells a different story. It’s often difficult – we’ve played many tight cup matches – and that could well be the case again here. So, we need to be ready, avoid underestimating them, and play to the best of our ability.

"We need to show energy and go out there to play our own game. I’m also looking forward to it, as this is likely one of the last times in my career that I’ll visit a smaller stadium in Jutland – at least while wearing an FCK jersey. I’m looking forward to that, too."