Neestrup reacts to 5-1 win at Randers

Jacob Neestrup says his F.C. Copenhagen players were "liberated" in Sunday's 5-1 win at Randers, which marks the end of a hectic two months for the squad.

FCK head into the first international break of the season top of the Danish Superliga and having secured qualification to the UEFA Champions League.

After an intense schedule of 13 games in 44 days, the Lions took control at Cepheus Park when Marcos Lopez, Youssoufa Moukoko, Mohamed Elyounoussi and Elias Achouri all found the net before half time.

Florian Danho clawed one back for the hosts in the second half, before Yoram Zague bagged his second of the season in the last minute.

"I am of course extremely pleased with the performance that the players put together today," said the head coach.

"I think we are relaxing, which I had hoped for, just like we did in the cup final in the spring, after the championship was secured.

"I think we also saw that today, now that the important qualification for the Champions League was secured, and the worst pressure was taken off our shoulders.

"It's just an incredibly important phase when we play both the Superliga and European qualifiers, because in this period the most important thing is to qualify for a European league phase and of course preferably the Champions League, which we succeeded.

"But as soon as the match on Wednesday was over, it flips the other way around. From now on, the Superliga is the most important thing, so that we can win the championship again and give ourselves the opportunity to also play in the Champions League next year."

Lopez opened the scoring in the 12th minute when delicately whipping a free-kick into the top-right corner. Moukoko then doubled the lead, collecting a pass and rounding a defender before firing home.

Elyounoussi then scored a sublime goal on 40 minutes, chipping over the goalkeeper after a quick one-two with Lukas Lerager, before Achouri nodded home from close range in first-half stoppage time.

"I think we played a little more liberated today with a team that I still see as extremely hungry, and I'm extremely happy about that," added Neestrup.

"There was a good structure in the team, and from there a good creativity with many great individual performances, so I'm very satisfied with today. But most of all with the first 13 matches, which we have executed really well."

Youngster Zague added gloss to the performance, when sprinting through on the break to delicately chip the goalkeeper.

Neestrup added: "We are in first place in the Superliga with an average of over two points per game, and we got the ticket to the Champions League, and many players have contributed well, and many have grown.

"Look at William Clem today, for example, who started the season a little behind the others, but has grown into an important player in the team, both domestically and in Europe.

"It also says something about the fact that there are many different players contributing, and we are really happy about that. It is important to have that feeling of unity that we also had in the double season last year."