Heading into the final ten league games of the season just 3 points off top wasn’t the worst position to be in but clearly at a club of this level the expectation was higher than just being within reach for the closing stages.
As mentioned in the previous post, our record against our fellow Championship Group sides wasn’t exactly one of domination, we’d also have a Danish Cup final in the midst of this run-in.
As I guide you through the conclusion of my first season at Copenhagen, the title of the first post of FM26 comes to mind again… What the FCK?
An Early Title Decider?
The challenge to retain our Superliga title got off to a good start with wins over Brondby and Vejle. Defender Oliver Provstgaard scoring the only goal of a 1-0 win in the first game before he scored again in a 4-2 win away to Vejle - Andreas Cornelius, Rodrigo Huescas and Viktor Bjarki Dadson (“The Daddy”) scoring the others in that game.
Then the arse fell out of it, a 2-0 loss away to Midtjylland letting the title slip that bit further from our grasp - a brace from former Bournemouth “meh” player Philip Billing. Laboured draws with AGF (0-0) and Silkeborg (1-1, Dadason the scorer) followed before an emphatic bounce back win against Velje as a Moukouko double, Dadason and Cornelius all contributed to the 4-0 scoreline. Brondby away was a chance for one more big game to get our tails up before the league action broke for the Danish Cup Final… a 0-0 draw was what followed with their Goalkeeper picked out as Player of the Match.
The Parken Neutrals - Danish Cup Final
The Parken Stadion was the “neutral” venue for the domestic cup showpiece: FC Copenhagen v Silkeborg IF.
We were obviously favourites for this tie, despite previous results this season not giving much away: a win, a draw and a loss for either side. We beat them 2-1 at home, they beat us 2-0 away and we drew 1-1 away again after the league split - we would be due to play Silkeborg once more in the league at home on the final day of the season.
We were cut apart in the 25th minute of play as Silkeborg played the ball in behind our defence on their right wing and a low cross into the area was touched home by the advancing Tonni Adamsen from the edge of the 6 yard box. 0-1.
Copenhagen pressed forward relentlessly in pursuit of an equalising goal, a pursuit that paid off in added time at the end of the first half. Rodrigo Huescas’ freekick from a wide area was knocked down by Marcos Lopez and on hand was Thomas Delaney to fire past a helpless Silkeborg goalkeeper on the half volley. Game on. 1-1.
Into the second half and we benefit from the second ball from a freekick again as Ivan Ilic put a high ball into the box from a freekick around the halfway mark. Lukas Lerager nodded the ball on toward the back post and in came defender Gabriel Pereira to apply the finishing touch. 2-1.
With 75 minutes gone, Copenhagen extended their lead to seal the victory. An overhit cross was chased down by Oliver Provstgaard on the opposite side of the box, he won the ball off the feet of the defender and put a low searching ball in to the near post - Youssoufa Moukouko appearing unmarked to toe poke the ball into the back of the net. 3-1.
FC Copenhagen are Danish Cup Champions 2026.
I know that I should probably be much more joyful than this but honestly a Thursday night Danish Cup Final with a 7.30pm kick off really feels like a bit of a distraction from the true task at hand. Neither the board nor the fans seem to really have a lot of expectation for the cup competition. They want the league win and we have a further 3 games to try and do something about that.
FRUSTRATION!
No, not the popular board game that we’ll all be playing with our families on Boxing Day. The feeling when you know you should have done better but also you’re secretly not absolutely devastated.
It starts with Midtjylland at home - hoping to avenge our 2-0 defeat just 5 games earlier. Jordan Larsson put us ahead 16 minutes in but Midtjylland equalise in the 33rd minute. Youssoufa restored our lead on 50 minutes but Midtjylland hit back just 4 minutes later. Despite throwing absolutely everything at it in the final 15 minutes of the game, we just couldn’t find that third goal and it ended in a 2-2 draw.
We were firmly up against it now, facing an away trip to AGF who we had beaten once and lost once to during the first phase of the league before drawing with them in the Championship Group phase. Once again, it was an opposition goalkeeper who was Player of the Match, we out xG’d them (shoutout to the xG nerds) and with 3 minutes of normal time remaining they delivered the ultimate sucker punch as stand-in goalkeeper (and former Gooner bastard) Runar Alex Runarsson came out to collect a high delivery from a wide freekick but missed, allowing Janni Serra the easiest of nods into the back of an unguarded net.
FC Midtjylland’s 1-1 draw at home to Brondby in gameweek 31 meant they had already secured the title regardless of the outcome of the final round of matches. They went out in the last week and lost 1-0 to AGF. Playing Silkeborg for the fifth time this season, it was goals from two players who quite possibly won’t be at the club next season who secured a 2-1 victory. Back up left wing back Birger Meling found the bottom corner after a neat lay off from Youssoufa Moukoko. Silkeborg got themselves level when Tonni Adamsen (that man again) got on the end of a hopeful lump forward which our 3-man defence all seemed to entirely misjudge. Keen to end the season on a relative high, we fought back with some route one football of our own - Dominik Kotarski’s kick out of his hands beating the entire Silkeborg outfield players and Andreas Cornelius nipped in behind the defence to finish the chance.
A point behind eventual winners Midtjylland: if we’d just hung on for the win against them when we were leading 2-1, if we’d not conceded that 87th minute loser against AGF. Midtjylland’s end of season form of a loss, 4 draws and a loss is especially frustrating.
Solid Foundations but Underpinning Required
I still feel like this squad is a really solid base, it just needs some serious rounding - without a doubt some need offloaded and we need one or two first team ready players and the bulk out the squad with better rotation options.
Gabriel Pereira made a start in every single one of our 55 competitive matches this season. He scored once and set one up with an average rating of 7.09
Leading the scoring charts were our front two partnership of Youssoufa Moukoko (22) and Jordan Larsson (16).
The assist chart was topped by left wing back Marcos Lopez with 11, with right wing back Rodrigo Huescas and Mohamed Elyounoussi joint on 9. It’s a decent return from Elyounoussi in just 23 starts and 12 sub appearances along with his 3 goals - I just have never really been convinced by him despite this output. He doesn’t really seem to shine from a flat midfield two or maybe I am expecting a little too much and not appreciating the donkey work he is doing.
Dominik Kotarski made 46 appearances, conceding 39 goals and keeping 22 clean sheets. He has seemed a bit erratic at times (FM playing true to life as I witnessed when Copenhagen faltered against Spurs) but those stats show a goalkeeper and defence who are tough opponents.
I’ve started to integrate youth although my focus on the first year was definitely just in getting myself some security in the job (something I may have failed on anyway).
Oliver Provstgaard has been a great loan signing and we have the option to sign permanently although the agreed price of £9.25m might be a bit steep for me at this stage, it could warrant some negotiation though Celesti (whoever they are) may disagree.
William Clem at DM is only 21 and has the potential to be a mid-longer term replacement for Delaney when the time comes. Oliver Hojer has 2 assists in his 6 appearances from the bench however the standout rookie (discounting Moukoko as an established first teamer) is without a doubt Viktor Bjarki Dadason who scored 4 goals in his 12 appearances (4 start / 8 sub).
With a few loan players due to return (Robert, Daramy, Chiaka) this should help to add bulk and value to the squad.
The Aussie Goodbye?
You may be familiar with what is known as an “Irish Goodbye”, however this season has left me wondering whether I will be given “The Aussie Goodbye”.
Much like my good old Mate, Ange Postecoglou, I haven’t really delivered in the league what the fans and board would have expected. Although, I did bring some silverware - although I agree there is stark contrast to the fortunes of Spurs and Copenhagen in cups over the years, there is also a fair difference between winning a Danish Cup and a Europa League. Also, in my defence, Ange Postecoglou didn’t have to deal with many dips and changes to the Match Engine so…
In-game, the season has only ended a mere few days. There hasn’t been any talk about my future as manager just yet but I can’t imagine it will slip by without at least some remark or demands for next season.
Hopefully I’ll be back to update you on the start to season two shortly. If not, can someone let the Forest boss know I’m open to negotiation?