After the match against FC Utrecht, Hjalte Bidstrup from FC Copenhagen gave his view on the Otten Innovation Cup so far.
Have you enjoyed playing football at this year’s Otten Innovation Cup?
Very much, very much, especially with the new rules. We have to, you know, get into it and get to learn it. But when you learn it, it's quite fun to play.
Let’s talk about some of those new rules; because there's rolling subs as an example - do you find that they slow the game down or is it an advantage?
I won't say it slows down the game, but I will actually say it's okay, because we can just run out and you don't have to stop the game all the time. So it just keeps the flow going. That's really, really good.
There's a variety of teams here in Eindhoven from all around the world. Have you enjoyed watching and playing against some of them?
Oh, it's lovely to see all kinds of football teams here, especially from Brazil, and, you know, all the other countries that are connecting here, so it's fun to see how they also play, and what is their culture and style of play.
Is there any style of play which you’ve seen so far that you'd like to adapt into your game?
Perhaps, maybe the Brazilian team, Red Bull. On the ball they can do some nice tricks, and maybe I can learn one or two from them.
Perhaps some of the backflips we have seen them celebrate with?!
[Laughing] Yeah, maybe, but I don't think I have the capacity for that!
The Brazilians play a really high and fast tempo; does it take some getting used to?
No, in Copenhagen we actually play that kind of football with intensity and are hardened to the duels, but we're also very good on the ball. So in Copenhagen we have to be good in every kind of aspect, especially me as a player; I like to play a little bit physically sometimes, so I think it suits me as well.
In terms of the Otten Innovation Cup, FC Copenhagen have won one game, lost one and drawn one. Sunday is the final day of the tournament - what's the thing you're going to take away from this whole competition?
The energy from all the games. You know, you can't just after you play two or three games, drop the energy, because otherwise the other team is just going to kill you. So I think you have to obtain the energy and just keep it going. I think when we go back to Denmark, we're going to be a lot more physical, and play with more intensity than the other clubs there. So that's something we're going to take back.
Finally, what's next for FC Copenhagen after the Otten Innovation Cup?
It's the league start, actually. So we're going to look forward to that and hopefully get a win!