Boss Solbakken calls for perfect display in Danes’ bid for an upset

COPENHAGEN head coach Stale Solbakken knows he faces an uphill battle to upset Manchester United and former apprentice Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in their Europa League quarter-final.

The new-look, coronavirus-shaped final eight tournament kicks off in Germany tonight, when the two Norwegian managers face off in sweltering Cologne in search of a semi-final spot.

This is Copenhagen’s first ever European quarter-final but Solbakken knows a thing or two about shocking United, having led the side to victory against them in a Champions League fixture nearly 14 years ago.

“In order to do that we have to play perfect,” he said, reflecting on that 1-0 win in November 2006.

“We need a bit of luck. We maybe need a United that doesn’t fire on all cylinders.

“We need to be perfect defensively. We need to take that one or two or three chances we get during a game like this.

“The chances are not great but it’s an advantage for us that it’s over 90 minutes and not 180 minutes.”

Solskjaer was in the starting line-up for that defeat in the Danish capital — the striker’s last season before retiring and moving into coaching.

The 47-year-old spent time shadowing Solbakken in 2011 at Copenhagen, who the United boss was linked to after his compatriot spent stints at the helm of Cologne — where this evening’s match is being held — and Wolves before returning to Denmark.

“We are friends from the national team in the 90s, where Norway was the second-best team in the world,” said Solbakken, who has former United full-back Guillermo Varela in his squad.

“You won’t believe that! We were ranked number two in the world, so we played in a World Cup together.

“We have a good relationship. We are not close friends but I can say we are good friends.”