FC Nordsjaelland boss Jens Fonsskov Olsen admits he has work to do with his team ahead of facing Hearts this midweek. The Danes are in the Scottish capital on Thursday night to take on the Jambos as the Europa Conference League proper kicks off.
Hearts confidence boost
Wouter Vrancken's men hit the ground running after the international break, thumping St Mirren 5-0 at Tynecastle to record a first win in three league games and boost confidence ahead of another Euro night under the lights in Gorgie. The Belgian must choose between fit again Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Eduardo Ageu with another change to Hearts' Conference League squad permitted.
Goalless stalemate
In contrast, Nordsjaelland played out a goalless stalemate with Odense on Friday night. The result leaves them fourth in the Superliga table with 18 points from their ten matches so far. And Olsen was less than impressed with what his players served up in an attacking sense.
“If there had been a winner, it should have been us,” he said. “But if we look at the performance, I don't think it was good enough either. We know we can do better. I think we should have created more and bigger chances. So it's a frustrating feeling.
“It's about the decisions in the crucial moments. Both when you have to finish, but also in the sequences where you have to pass the ball and play the chance even bigger. So there are many things we need to look at. We are good at the offensive parameters, but we are not getting enough output.”
Fixture scheduling frustration
The visitors will of course have had an extra few hours to rest and prepare for their trip to Tynecastle having played on the Friday night. But Olsen would rather have played later following an extended international break.
He added: “I still think it's a shame that there are Friday games in the Super League at the back of a national team schedule. Because the clubs that get involved in it don't get the best opportunities to prepare. Of course, it also depends on how many national team players you have going. My personal opinion is that it will undermine the clubs that will be playing a little in relation to the product that must be delivered.”
