Manchester United’s Champions League defeat at the hands of FC Copenhagen is causing quite the debate over in Denmark with a Brondby defender claiming his side could also see off Erik ten Hag’s men.
And the sight of Frederik Alves playing down Copenhagen’s achievement – the Danes are still delirious after one of the greatest wins in their entire history – it certainly hasn’t gone down well at the Parken Stadium.
Alves, once of West Ham, certainly stoked the flames before Brondby hosted Copenhagen on Sunday, claiming he was ‘sure’ his side could also do what FCK did in that topsy-turvy, seven-goal thriller with Manchester United.
These were comments Copenhagen full-back Christian Sorensen was never going to take lying down.
Copenhagen defender hits back
“I couldn’t help but notice (what Alves said),” Sorensen tells TV2. “My first thought was that I can’t remember the last time Brøndby was in the Champions League.”
Sorensen has a point. While Copenhagen are a semi-regular presence at Europe’s top table these days, Brondby haven’t graced the Champions League proper since 1998.
Coincidentally, they faced Sir Alex Ferguson’s United side in that season’s group-stage, losing 11-2 over the two games to a Red Devils side who would go on to lift Ol’ Big Ears itself a few months later.
“It may be that (Brondby) have to arrange a training match against United, so that they can be allowed to beat them. We’ll beat them in what is called the Champions League,” Sorensen adds with no shortage of sass.
Copenhagen stun Manchester United
That defeat, a game overshadowed by a series of baffling VAR calls, left Manchester United with a mountain to climb as they look to avoid a first-round exit from Europe’s premiere club competition.
With only one win to their name so far – a result Andre Onana made possible with a stoppage-time penalty save – United need to beat both Bayern Munich and Galatasaray while hoping that other results go their way.
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