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Viktor Claesson out to break Hearts as Copenhagen ace looks to avoid death of a dream before Christmas
No-nonsense Viktor Claesson wants to wrap-up a Conference League winners' medal next May.
But the Copenhagen ace knows anything other than victory against Hearts on Thursday night could see his dream shattered before Christmas. The Danes are on five points - one behind the Jambos in the league phase - with seven understood to be the magic number to secure a play-off spot for the last 16. Their campaign got off to a stuttering start with defeat against Jagiellonia Białystok before draws with Real Betis then Istanbul left them playing catch-up. Now they know they need a minimum two points from their last two games against Hearts and away to Rapid Vienna.
It’s a far cry from their march to the last 16 of the Champions League last season where they beat Manchester United and drew with Bayern Munich on the way. And 74-times capped Sweden international Claesson said: “When we started this campaign we wanted to get through the league phase. But, of course, when you play in the Conference League you want to go further.
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“And if you say to me like that, I want to go the whole way. But we know it's going to be difficult and we didn't have the best start here. So right now the only focus is to play European football after Christmas. We don't look further than that.
“I played Kilmarnock this season, obviously. Scottish sides always play with a big heart and they are dedicated fans. “They play a little bit more direct, I think, than other countries. I also played Rangers in a friendly in January. And back in the days I played Celtic. So I think Kilmarnock was a little bit more direct than Celtic and Rangers, but hard to expect them to be a little bit in between. And it's going to be a tough game and I am sure they will have good fans with them as well.”
Copenhagen defeated Killie 3-1 on aggregate including a 2-0 win in the Parken Stadium in the play-off to reach the league phase back in August. And boss Jacob Neestrup expects another tough test against Hearts - who he reckons are much better than their lowly Premiership position shows.
He said: “I know that domestic wise they have not done as good as they probably hoped for this season. But we have also been in situations in Copenhagen, both where we struggled in the league, but also in a period where we were very, very good in the domestic league, where to play European football is sometimes a space of freedom.
“So even though the results have not been as good as they probably hoped for in the league, then European football is two tournaments and it's two different kinds of content. They have done well in the Conference League and they are higher in the table than we are and they are that for a reason.
“If you look at their main stats, then they actually perform like a top team. Hearts is a little bit more of a mix between a direct approach and short passing, where Kilmarnock was extremely direct.
“I don't expect the same game picture like we had against Kilmarnock in Parken three months ago, because it's very difficult to play an opponent that deep for several minutes like we did against Kilmarnock for almost 95 minutes.
“We need the win. So of course we want to take initiative in the game and take control. But I think that Hearts will bite a little bit more back than Kilmarnock did three months ago.”
