FCK frustrated but Club Brugge content

FC København pair Nicolai Jørgensen and Thomas Kristensen bemoaned a lack of killer instinct in the final third after being held to a frustrating goalless draw against Club Brugge KV in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie. For the Belgian visitors to the Danish capital, the achievement of keeping a clean sheet marked a job well done.

Nicolai Jørgensen, FCK forward
I think Brugge only came for the draw. We tried to open them up but it was difficult as they were keeping ten or 11 men in their own half. They will play more openly in their own stadium. We will get a lot more chances because they will have to get the one goal that can send them through.

It is very important in away games in Europe that you keep a clean sheet and we knew Brugge would try to get the draw. We did not play quickly enough to get the one goal we needed. Playing in the Champions League is always fun and is totally different from the [Danish] Superliga. It is much faster and you feel nervous before the game, but I think today was acceptable for our team.

Thomas Kristensen, FCK midfielder
Brugge were sitting deep in their own half and we had trouble creating chances. We did well keeping the ball and passed it well, but we lacked a bit in the final third. Maybe Brugge are more skilful and a better side than some of the teams in the Superliga. They are strong, but we also learned from last season's experience in the Champions League where we sometimes pushed too hard to get a goal and then got hit on the counter.

We respect our opponents and we know their crowd will try to carry them forward so they will probably operate a bit higher, but maybe we can take advantage of that and play some deep balls in behind them and there could be space for us to run into. It would be amazing [to qualify for the Champions League], but we are taking one game at a time.

Jonathan Blondel, Club Brugge midfielder
We can be satisfied because we knew it would be a difficult game. I think for us the most important thing was not to concede. Beforehand we wanted to win but with it 0-0 at half-time, the second half was going to be difficult, so I think we can be happy with the draw.

At home it will be a totally different game. We are better at home and with maybe 28,000 supporters behind us they will act as a 12th man. If we beat FC København in the second leg we are certain to be in the Europa League at least, so for us it is already looking good. It is eight years since we were last in the Champions League so that is our desire. We need to focus on the next game against København and, if we can go through, it will be a bonus if we can then qualify for the Champions League.