Ahead of Crystal Palace Under-21s’ clash with FC Nordsjaelland on Wednesday evening (26th November, 19:00 GMT), head coach Darren Powell and three members of his squad – midfielder Dylan Reid, defender Dean Benamar and striker Zach Marsh – shared their thoughts on facing the Danish side.
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I’m really excited to test myself against FC Nordsjaelland
—Dylan Reid
Reflecting on the challenge ahead, Reid emphasised the strong reputation Nordsjaelland hold for youth development.
“I know they’re a Danish side with a really good pedigree when it comes to producing young players. Their academy has been highly regarded for years, so I expect their team to be strong and well-coached.
“I’m really excited to test myself against players like that – players who could go on to become top professionals.”
Defender Benamar echoed that respect, noting the quality traditionally associated with the Wild Tigers.
“FC Nordsjaelland are known across Europe for bringing through talented young footballers. We know they’ll be a good side, so we’ll have to be at our best on the night.”
Forward Marsh expanded on the group’s awareness of their opponents.
“We know they’re a strong team from Denmark, and they’ve already won their first two games in the Premier League International Cup to go top of Group B. It’s going to be a tough test – they’re new to the competition, but they’ve shown already how competitive they are. It’s a challenge I’m really looking forward to.”
It certainly won’t be easy
—Darren Powell
Head coach Powell acknowledged that, while Palace have not faced Nordsjaelland before, the fixture represents an exciting test against a respected academy programme.
“We know they’re a talented Danish side, and while we haven’t come up against them previously, that makes it an intriguing game. It certainly won’t be easy – they’re well known for developing intelligent, technical players – but it’s a match we’re really looking forward to.”
Following the Under-21s’ impressive 3-1 victory over Juventus, Powell stressed the significance of maintaining momentum in the group.
“We had three games left, and the aim was to take nine points from them. Juventus was a good start – three points on the board – and now we’ve got two more big games to keep ourselves alive in the competition.”
With qualification still in reach, Powell underlined the importance of the upcoming fixture.
Crystal Palace U21s v FC Nordsjælland U21s
