Neestrup: 'We gave it a shot'
F.C. Copenhagen head coach Jacob Neestrup was able to reflect on a long Champions League campaign on Wednesday that sadly came to an end for this season with a 4-1 defeat to FC Barcelona at Camp Nou.
Viktor Dadason's opener was the highlight of a game that FCK needed three points from, and the Lions head coach believes a win was possible – had the players' finishing just been a little bit sharper.
"We lost to a clearly better team, but we created enough opportunities from both open chances and potential opportunities from our deep runs, which I had hoped and believed we would do" says Neestrup. "But we only kept the game alive until the middle of the second half.
"With a little more luck and sharpness in our finishing, we might have gone 2-0 up or levelled for 2-2 after they took the lead. It was also a shame that Gabriel's goal was disallowed in the end, because 4-2 would have of course looked better than 4-1.
"But all in all there is nothing to object to Barcelona winning.
“We faced a classy team that plays at a tremendous pace, and they make almost no technical mistakes. Their timing when they play from deep is at an insanely high level. But we gave it the shot we had planned and now we have to say goodbye to the Champions League for now.”
The result ends a European campaign that began back all the way back in July, when the Lions beat KF Drita 2-0 in Parken during the second qualifying round.
Further wins over Malmö and Basel earned FCK the right to compete in the eight-game League Phase, with the last two matches – against Napoli and Barcelona – coming during Danish football's winter break.
Reflecting on what has been a long campaign, Neestrup says: “The feeling's a bit mixed when you stand here and look back on this Champions League campaign. Many people probably compare this season with previous Champions League campaigns, and it’s clear that we haven’t been as skilled and as good as we were two years ago.
“But back then the conditions were completely different, because we had a well-coordinated team that was completely injury-free and didn’t play any bad games.
“The team this season delivered absolutely superb qualification both in terms of results and, not least, how we played. You shouldn’t forget that, because after all, that’s what got us into the Champions League.
"But the League Phase was fluctuating both in terms of play and results. Based on the conditions that the team has had, with so many key players out in the autumn and also today, where we are missing four who could start – Cornelius, Delaney, Mattsson and Huescas – based on those conditions, I don't think I could ask for more.
"I think the boys have done well, to be able to keep our Champions League hopes alive right until the middle of the second half of the eighth and final match, which was even against one of Europe's very best teams at the moment."
The head coach also sent his thanks to the approximately 2,300 FCK fans who made the trip to Barcelona and made their mark at Camp Nou.
"I could hear them, but not see them, because they were far up and it was dark," he says.
"But I hope that – even during a bumpy Superliga autumn – they have had some good European experiences and good trips together.
"We appreciate the great support and will do our best to improve in the spring in the Superliga, and at the same time do everything we can to get to the cup final."
Next up for FCK is a friendly with AGF on Sunday, before a return to Superliga action on 8 February when we travel to FC Midtjylland. Our first home hame back in Parken after the winter break is in the Danish Cup against Viborg of 11 February, with tickets on sale now.