Champions League Official Live football scores & Fantasy
Get
UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

FCK and Leverkusen eye improvement

FC København's Ståle Solbakken was "frustrated" by the goals his side conceded in a 3-2 loss to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who feel they "could have won by a bigger margin".

FCK's Mathias Jørgensen looks to keep tabs on Karim Bellarabi of Leverkusen
FCK's Mathias Jørgensen looks to keep tabs on Karim Bellarabi of Leverkusen ©Getty Images

• FC København coach Ståle Solbakken "frustrated" by goals his side conceded
• Solbakken also feels his team "should have scored two more"
• He still sees "lots of ways to beat" Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the second leg
• Opposite number Roger Schmidt "satisfied" with the result
• The Leverkusen coach warns his players they cannot relax

Ståle Solbakken, København coach
We created more chances than we could ever have dreamed of against Bayer Leverkusen. We scored two, but we should have scored two more. And if you create so many chances and score two goals, you have to win your matches at home in this competition.

Even when we were 3-2 down we were very much in control and created two clear chances. Once we were even three against two in their penalty area during that period, but they are just a better team. They punished us every time we didn't do things perfectly and many of my players didn't play to their potential in terms of controlling the ball. We lost the ball in some situations where we really shouldn't have. Yet I see a lot of ways to beat Bayer Leverkusen given the way they approached the match with their pressing game.

The four players up front and the substitute who came on in the second half, Julian Brandt, maintained a high level for the entire match, so there was nothing I was surprised by. They played exactly as we expected them to. I'm frustrated. The goals we gave away really frustrate me. Their third goal was OK, but the other two were just not good enough on our part.

We are a young team and we are still not where we want to be. I'm not saying Bayer Leverkusen are not a better side, they are, and it's not a case of me not accepting that we lost, I'm just frustrated about their first two goals.

Roger Schmidt, Leverkusen coach
I'm very satisfied. There were many good moments from us, especially in the second half, but we could have been more efficient. Had we been more clinical it would have been a clearer result. We deserved a bigger win, but I'm satisfied because FC København are a solid team and they are willing to put a lot of effort into the game and run a lot.

Leverkusen celebrate their winner
Leverkusen celebrate their winner©Getty Images

Andreas Cornelius can do things on his own and he troubled us at the beginning of the match. The start of the game was very tough for us and unfortunately two dead-ball situations led to two goals for them – I can't be satisfied with that. But overall it was a good match and we can go home and prepare for the return leg with a good feeling.

Winning away is a good starting point, but it could have been even better if we had won by a larger margin. There is no time to relax. We have to prepare for the return leg and use the weapons that we have [at our disposal]. If we manage to do so I'm very optimistic.

Pressing is the style of this team from now on. We have the quality to play this way. Even though we played in an ultra offensive manner we didn't afford FC København many opportunities. We could have stood and waited for FC København to come on to us, but that is not an attractive way of playing for the spectators nor is it a good way to approach the game.

You have to play well against a team like FC København. The desire from the players to proceed to the group stage is so great that they won't take the second leg lightly.

Selected for you