Back in the A-Liga: Kristian Mørch looks ahead to Kolding IF

Following Tuesday’s big European night against Arsenal FC, the focus now returns to the A-Liga, where HB Køge Women host Kolding IF at Køge Idrætspark on Saturday. Head Coach Kristian Mørch expects a different but challenging test against a Kolding side that has added new options in recent matches.

On Tuesday evening, HB Køge Women began their UEFA Women’s Champions League league phase campaign away to Arsenal FC. The Swans delivered a strong and disciplined performance in London but ultimately suffered a 1-0 defeat following a late goal.

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With a few days having passed since the game, Head Coach Kristian Mørch is pleased with what he saw from his team.

“We look back on it as a really strong performance, where we came very close to also getting something from the game in terms of points. Having watched the game back, we are very pleased with the decisions we made both before and during the match. It was a very good performance,” says Kristian Mørch.

Focus returns to the A-Liga

The next challenge already awaits on Saturday, when Kolding IF visit Køge Idrætspark. That means the players must quickly switch their focus from the Champions League back to domestic action.

This time, however, the schedule has given the squad a good opportunity to recover from the trip to London and turn their attention towards the next task.

“Fortunately, this time – which is one of the few occasions in the schedule – we have had a decent opportunity to reset both before and after the game. Because of that, I think switching our focus has been quite manageable,” says the Head Coach, before continuing:

“It will become a little more difficult later in the schedule. But this time it hasn’t been a major challenge because we have had two training sessions, which have allowed us to settle back in.”

A Kolding side with new options

Saturday’s opponents, Kolding IF, currently sit just outside the places for the championship round, but Mørch particularly highlights the changes the team has undergone recently.

“They have brought in three new players who featured in their most recent game, and that has changed their options quite significantly. They are a team whose performances have varied a lot, and their games often feature plenty of goals. But we can’t simply look at their matches from two or three months ago and expect it to be the same team we will face this time.”

Preparations for the match have, however, fundamentally remained the same, regardless of whether the opponent is Arsenal FC or Kolding IF.

“We prepare in the same way we do for every game. It’s about analysing the opponent’s strengths and limitations and how those fit with our own plan. At the same time, it’s about which players are in form and which players are fresh. That’s the big puzzle we put together for every single game.”

Mercy could feature

HB Køge Women today announced the signing of 18-year-old Zambian winger Mercy Chipasula, who joins the club from Kamfinsa Blue Eagles Queens.

The young attacking player is eligible to play and could therefore already be in contention for Saturday’s match.

“Mercy obviously has the opportunity to feature tomorrow because she is eligible to play for us. We are also quite confident about what she can bring to the team,” says Mørch.

“Mercy is an attacking player who is very good on the ball. She has strong one-on-one abilities, but she can also create opportunities for her teammates.”

“She will probably need a period of adjustment in Denmark, where she will have to get used to the high intensity of the Danish league compared to the Zambian league. But she has already played alongside some of the world’s best players with the Zambian national team,” Kristian Mørch concludes.

HB Køge Women host Kolding IF at Køge Idrætspark on Saturday at 13:00. If you are unable to make it to the stadium, the match can be watched on TV 2 Play.