Danish fans are discovering the meaning of the word schadenfreude with the wheels having come off FC København's title defence since the start of spring.
Off the top
Having won the last two Danish titles, taking their tally to six since they were formed in 1992 with the merger of 15-time champions Kjøbenhavns Boldklub and seven-time champions Boldklubben 1903, no one expected anyone to offer København much resistance this season. However, a 2-1 defeat at Randers FC has left them six points adrift of leaders Aalborg BK and a point behind FC Midtjylland in second.
Hope fading
To add to that indignity, København are also out of the Danish Cup, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Esbjerg fB. With eight league games to go, Norwegian coach Ståle Solbakken is now losing hope of taking the title, saying: "We have to admit that it looks difficult right now, and I am not sure we should focus so much on the gold, but instead take things one match at a time." Such an attitude will not endear him to FCK's fans. Hundreds turned up to team training sessions after the EfB defeat with a banner reading: 'København are not worthy of silverware'.
Capital dominance
The 40-year-old Solbakken, who led København into their only UEFA Champions League group stage campaign in 2006/07, made his name in Denmark as a midfielder, leading AaB to their second league title in 1998/99. Herfolge BK won the crown the following season, but since then it has never left the capital, with either København or their local rivals Brøndby IF taking the honours.
Provinces alight
Ninth in the 12-team Superliga, Brøndby are having an even more miserable season than FCK, meaning that a club from outside the capital have a tremendous chance of taking the honours this time. That is certainly a bonus for Danish fans, who are enjoying seeing different sides battling for the title, but national team coach - and former Brøndby boss – Morten Olsen, is not so impressed. "On an international level, it is no advantage for Danish football that we do not have a team that is obviously better than the others," said the 58-year-old. "Look at Norway and Greece who have had the same top team for years. That may have been boring for their national leagues, but it gave them results in Europe." The league season concludes on 24 May.
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Denmark delights in København's misery
