Rotan: 'Copenhagen are a Champions League-level side, but Polissya aren't afraid'

Polissya head coach Ruslan Rotan shared his expectations ahead of the club's European debut against Danish giants Copenhagen in the second qualifying round of the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League. The first leg is scheduled for Thursday, July 23, with a 21:00 Kyiv time kickoff. Rotan stressed that his coaching staff have done their homework, studying not only Copenhagen's pre-season friendlies but also their competitive matches under the current manager. 'First of all, we've watched not just the friendlies — we've seen their league games under this coach as well. They're a very cohesive unit. If I had to sum it up, this is a Champions League-level team, a Europa League group-stage side with plenty of European experience and top-quality players,' Rotan said, as quoted by the Polissya press service. 'But you have to understand: the way Copenhagen approach European matches — with excellent discipline and organization — that's exactly the kind of team we want to become. We shouldn't look at them and think, "Oh, it's Copenhagen!" Last season we had the same attitude toward Fiorentina: "Fiorentina are Conference League finalists, we have no chance." But those are the matches that give us the experience to face a side like Copenhagen with self-belief and focus on our own game.' The Zhytomyr-based manager emphasized that the key battle won't just be about possession, but about what his team does without the ball. 'It's not only about playing with the ball — it's about playing without it: how aggressive we are, how compact, how disciplined. Essentially, it's the same thing Copenhagen prioritizes when they face their opponents,' Rotan explained. Rotan also provided an update on the squad's fitness ahead of the double-header. He confirmed that the club has clarity on the injured players and that everyone available is ready to contribute across both legs. 'There's training, matches, and pre-season camps where players pick up knocks. That part is very tough before European ties. We have a squad registered for two games and we know exactly which injured guys are out. Everyone who trained today is in the squad for both matches against Copenhagen. We'll wait for the injured players to return — it all depends on how quickly they can get back on the pitch,' the coach said. When asked whether Polissya would have to focus more on fighting than on imposing their own style, Rotan agreed there's a physical battle, but insisted it's not the only factor. 'I agree, every match has a fight you can't afford to lose. Of course, it depends on the mentality. But we have to think not only about the battle — we also need to organize our play with the ball and understand the game. We've gone through every detail about Copenhagen with the lads. We know how they play with and without the ball. They've studied us, and we've studied them. The pitch will decide everything,' Rotan concluded.