FCK U19s looking forward to UEFA Youth League campaign

F.C. Copenhagen's entry into the UEFA Champions League means the club can also field an U19 side in the UEFA Youth League this season.

Our U19s will face the same opponents as our first team across the first six rounds this autumn, but not the two teams scheduled for matches in January.

Head coach Sune Holmgren has always had the possibility in the back of his mind that the U19s would be playing European football this season.

"Even though it was out of our own hands, we have planned as though the first team would succeed, because that way we can also set high demands on ourselves to be ready for it when and if the opportunity arose," said Sune after the U19 team's training on Friday morning.

"We are of course really happy about the qualification, because it is a great side benefit that gives the players six great matches, which we are really looking forward to. It is important for our talent development, and it helps us to make the players even more skilled faster.

"I don't know yet who we will play against, so it is difficult to assess our chances in the tournament, because I also don't have insight into all the teams' academies. There are also often differences in the level of the first teams and their academies, but there are certainly strong academies among the possible opponents that we hope we can try our hand at.

"We also don't know exactly which players are available in individual matches, but there are several first-team who meet the conditions to play in the Youth League, as we have also done in previous seasons."

FCK U19s still need to focus on the domestic U19 league this season, with the team facing Sønderjyske in the third game of the campaign on Saturday. With five points from two matches so far, Holmgren is optimistic about how the season will pan out.

"In terms of results, we've got off to a good start, and in terms of play, we've been good in periods of our matches, but there are also periods where we can and must improve – especially when we now have to compete at a high level in Europe with a relatively young squad with many first-year U19 players," he adds.

"But as I said, we are very excited, and it will be exciting tomorrow to see what matches await us this autumn."

We expect to play our home matches in Tingbjerg Idrætspark, but more details will be available when we know the match schedule.