A View From Denmark: Erik Sviatchenko previews Kilmarnock vs Copenhagen

welcome to plz soccer we are joined by former Celtic Defender Eric zenko as we take a look back at karo's first leg Europa conference League qualified against Copenhagen and looke to this week's second leg at rugby park first of all Eric can you just tell us what you made of that first leg it was a a game that they thought they would kind of cruise over especially at home they would kind of get those um get the win and then kind of head back to to the Super Liga but Kil manok really put up a a really really good display and and and showed character so I think uh Copenhagen were a little bit surprised uh with the level maybe of Scottish football and especially kilman when you look at kind of within the league I think um they were a little bit stunned um and the performance that they put out was of course from Copic side it was a lot of domination but still wasn't uh what they expected and now they in the end got the win um in the end kind of the the overtime where Rasmus Fel scored it was kind of a very important goal going into to Kil manik second goal makes life particularly difficult I think for for DK mckinness side but of course anything can happen would you anticipate that karut will put up quite the same fight or would you fancy that this is a bit more straightforward for Copenhagen now given that they've got that critical second goal I would say knowing uh rockby park and playing there on on Turf I think it's uh it's not the easiest play to go to I think especially having the chance for Kil manak with Europe I think they will put in everything uh they can and that's why Copenhagen they can relax even though that they think they have this two-nil lead um especially also coming from from a game in the weekend now where they uh where they lost to FC Norland were losing a game after 30 minutes 3-0 so it just shows that Copenhagen even though they have had the results in the league so far not this one uh but so far and been kind of close to Europe it just hasn't been running as smooth and there's kind of voices in Copenhagen around the Danish media that kind of puts the Dan the Danish coach uh on a bit of pressure so this is a very very key game for for Copenhagen that's obviously something that come Maru can can try and use to the advantage then if there there's been a bit of noise about Copenhagen obviously huge expectations on them and and given just the fact that they are seasoned European performers I'm sure the expectancy would be that this would be straightforward for them it it is 100% uh and that's why kind of they they know that they also have a job to to go and have have have have done but uh it's always tricky in these games you kind of struggle but you also know in your kind of uh core that they need to be in in in in in Europe um after this game but again playing against an underdog is always tough and that's why it's it's going to be interesting to to see this game and see what uh what it ends up with it's probably going to be Copenhagen advancing but I don't think it's going to be straightforward what was the reaction just within the the Danish media to that first leg what did they make of karuk no everyone was kind of uh a bit surprised uh in the sense of how they actually were organized but knowing Derek I think it's uh it's not an it's not a question of of that I think they should have known that with a manager like that with the experience he has I think it it they would show a performance like they did uh but of course it's it's uh the media in Denmark is very tough on Copenhagen always and and just kind kind of managing winning two- nil and one goal in overtime it's it's not good enough so they got a bit of criticism obviously a bit of intensity something that you would be familiar with at Celtic I would imagine it would be very similar but what um you know if Kar were to get an early goal it might just make things particularly interesting that's what uh I think people are hoping for especially the kilan fans I think if they could get that early goal it could set up a little bit of a um a nervous um Copenhagen um they are kind of it's a weird one right now that they have spent so much money they have the players they have brought in Thomas Delaney from from Seeva who is a national team player just retired actually yesterday but they have all these great players but it just haven't been um running in in in in that kind of smooth way as they hoped for so that's why I think any any anyone in Copenhagen is on on the edge right now kind of need that to get over the line and and maybe kilman can can make that stunner and and do something just still feel feel a little bit defensive about Scottish Football sometimes we know that the perception outside of the country might be a bit sniffy toward towards the game here but do you still feel quite defensive of it uh I would say I always try to kind of take sides when it can of course I'm I'm a Dane so for for the for the Danish football it's it's better to have Copenhagen than kilman so of course I would I would root for for Danish football but in the sense of uh of when Scottish Football is is doing well well I saw hars also in in as a Europa League qualifier so it's great to see other clubs than just Celtic and Rangers uh performing uh and trying to to get Scottish Football on the maps even though it's it's it's there but it can always improve but I still think like the fan base in all these things are better in Scotland than it is in in Denmark for sure I'm sure kamaro will be Keen that that those fans make their voices heard and try and create an atmosphere that's intense and as unwelcoming as possible for for for Copenhagen and Thursday night they have to put everything they can up for that kind of uh fight and and hope for for the best but it's always that Synergy between the the players and the fans that can can get you going in an early goal as we talked about and then the fans behind them then uh yeah anything can happen in football we know that after all these years [Music]