Focus on FC Copenhagen ahead of Europa League clash with Manchester United

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team meet Stale Solbakken’s side in Cologne on Monday.

Published Aug 9, 2020

Manchester United face FC Copenhagen in Monday’s Europa League quarter-final in Germany.

Ahead of the Stadion Koln encounter, the PA news agency takes a look at the Danish side.

Form

Copenhagen have won the Danish Superliga title 13 times over the years but had to make do with the runner-up spot this time around. FC Midtjylland were nine points ahead of FCK at the end of the regular season and extended that to 14 points by the end of the Championship Round as they comfortably won the league. They were knocked out in the Danish Cup quarter-finals but have had a more fruitful time in Europe.

European record

Celtic v FC Copenhagen – UEFA Europa League – Round of 32 – Second Leg – Celtic Park — FCK’s Michael Santos opened the scoring for at Celtic Park in February (Jeff Holmes/PA)

Coach

FC Copenhagen Training and Press Conference – King Power Stadium — Stale Solbakken, pictured, is a familiar face to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Simon Cooper/PA)

Key players

Copenhagen are built on a squad rather than star names, but there are a few recognisable figures among the ranks. Guillermo Varela is well known to United fans. The Uruguay international made 11 appearances for the club after joining from Penarol in 2013, with the full-back returning to the Montevideo club in 2017. Copenhagen captain Zeca is a self-confessed Manchester United supporter.