Danish Football Coach Hopes European Break Initiative Becomes Permanent

FC Midtjylland's head coach, Mike Tullberg, expressed his hope that a recent initiative providing a rest period for Danish clubs competing in European tournaments becomes a permanent fixture. The team has had a week to recover and prepare for their upcoming Conference League qualifier against Bohemians, following a demanding schedule of five matches in 15 days after the summer break.

"It has been good to have some air in the weekend," Tullberg stated. "We have been hit. Not mentally at all, but we have been a bit thin. Now we have got some people back, and the squad looks fresh. We are ready and looking forward to it. Not just for Thursday, but also for a new period with a lot of games in a short time."

“

It has been good to have some air in the weekend. We have been hit. Not mentally at all, but we have been a bit thin. Now we have got some people back, and the squad looks fresh. We are ready and looking forward to it. Not just for Thursday, but also for a new period with a lot of games in a short time.

The break, which also benefited other Danish European participants like AGF, FC Copenhagen, and FC Nordsjælland, was part of an agreement between the clubs and the Danish Football Association. The aim was to give these teams a pause during a critical period for qualifying for league play and securing coefficient points for Denmark.

While the agreement is currently only for this season, Tullberg is a strong advocate for its permanent implementation. He acknowledged that the optimal timing of the break might be debatable, suggesting it could potentially be more beneficial around the crucial playoff rounds. However, he ultimately views the current arrangement as a positive step. "I will leave it at that, that I think it is a very good initiative that we at least have the opportunity to skip a single round now, so that we are better positioned in Europe," Tullberg said.

“

I will leave it at that, that I think it is a very good initiative that we at least have the opportunity to skip a single round now, so that we are better positioned in Europe.