Derek McInnes: Relishing massive tie against top European side

Derek McInnes is relishing Kilmarnock’s ‘biggest game in 60 years’ as the Ayrshire side get set to take on Copenhagen.

The boss is getting his side prepared to take on last season’s Champions League knockout qualifiers, a team who picked up positive results against Manchester United and Bayern Munich last season.

McInnes knows though that it is an opportunity like no other for his players.

He said: “The stadium is renowned for atmosphere, it lends itself to a brilliant one.

“It’s all part of it for us. I’ve got a lot of players playing in Europe for the first time. It’s all quite new.

“I think playing in venues like this can only toughen you up and allow you to deal with certain things going forward.

“We want to make sure we’re good enough on the night. For us, we’ve got to try and treat it like when you go to a Celtic or a Rangers. Can you beat those two teams over two legs?

“It’s difficult but that’s the task ahead of us. Copenhagen are huge favourites in the game and we accept that and we understand it. It’s important that we don’t feel over-awed or inferior. Just set about the task.

“We’ve had big results with this squad over the last year or so. We’re certainly going to have to do a lot to give us a chance at Rugby Park.”

McInnes added: “Copenhagen, the club itself speaks for itself. They are a club of real stature in this country. It’s great for when I look back at the time here, two and a half years ago, we wouldn’t have dreamt of this.

“Even having just mixed with these types of teams in this competition. But now we’re here, we want to try and fulfil everything we can from it. We want to be good enough to try and take the tie to Rugby Park and have it in the balance.

“If we can get any positive result, if we can take anything back to Rugby Park, it’s important we try and keep the tie alive.”