Hjulmand and Bayer: Mood makers and party crashers

Wants to improve his negative record: Kasper Hjulmand. IMAGO/Gonzales Photo

Stephan von Nocks reports from Copenhagen

Simon Rolfes 's memories of August 19, 2014, seem very fresh. That Tuesday, Bayer 04 won the first leg of the Champions League play-offs against FC Copenhagen 3-2. The Werkself initially underestimated the power of "Parken" and the Copenhagen team, as the then midfielder and current CEO of Bayer 04 admits.

"Great atmosphere. An intense game. We weren't so careful at the beginning, but then we were able to turn the game around," Rolfes said, reflecting on the 2-1 deficit after taking the lead. His conclusion from this experience for Thursday evening: "You have to be alert from the start and show your qualities. That was the theme then, and it will be the theme now, too."

Rolfes expects aggressive and attacking Danes, "because this team is also used to playing with a lot of confidence in their league, because they have good routines, successful routines that bring confidence. And we have to show strength and presence there. They are very, very strong at parking," said the 43-year-old, referring to FCK's 4-3 Champions League victory against Manchester United in November 2023. "Many big teams have had problems here."

We first need to achieve stability. Not everything has to work so complicatedly.

Bayer 04, however, must first develop into such a team again after the coaching change. Rolfes outlines the goal clearly. "Ultimately, we obviously want to dominate the game with the ball, but you need intensity and a willingness to run," the manager says, first calling for the basics demonstrated in Kasper Hjulmand 's debut 3-1 victory.

It's crucial "that we first establish stability in the things we've done well. That's a development, that you can consistently perform at your level. That's a strength of a team." The advanced skill of the game comes later. "Not everything has to work so complicated," Rolfes knows, "but that you consistently do the basics at a high level. That's the next step."

A win against their Pot 4 opponent is essential to avoid immediate pressure in the fight for the playoff spots. The objective is therefore clear: "Copenhagen is a tough match, but we're going there to win."

Kasper Hjulmand's record as a club coach at Parken is rather modest. The 53-year-old played 15 matches with Lyngby and Nordsjælland at FC Copenhagen. His record is twelve defeats, one draw, and just two wins, although the circumstances are completely different from Thursday evening's match.

"I was always the underdog when we played here," Hjulmand says, assessing this statistic, "and we tried to reach the same level. This time the situation is different. We will be ready to fight against FC Copenhagen and play well, this time under different circumstances, of course."

Hjulmand's confidence that he can celebrate his third victory as a visiting coach with Bayer at "Parken", which has been his living room during his four years as Danish national coach, is justified insofar as FCK's offensive style of play should suit his team, which still needs to develop its offensive structures, but already worked well as a mood-maker in terms of counterattacks and transition play in the 3-1 win against Frankfurt.

Let's have a big football party.

Accordingly, Hjulmand's anticipation for the match, which certainly has the potential to be spectacular, is quite impressive. "Let's have a big football party, celebrating football and two very good teams playing at the highest level here," says the returning home player, "that would be really nice." His team will ultimately serve as the party crashers in the atmospheric "Parken" game.