Exclusive: Copenhagen youth boss Smith-Nielsen on matching Man Utd, Bayern Munich; losing Osula to Sheffield Utd

It doesn't go unnoticed when a rank outsider like FC Copenhagen (FCC) hammer their way through a Champions League-group containing teams like Bayern Munich and Manchester United. The U19-team from the Danish Champions did just that when taking first place in the UEFA Youth League (UYL) after winning four and losing just once before Christmas.

"Yeah, if I've been a little hard to reach it's because we're in great demand at the moment," says Sune Smith-Nielsen, Director of Development at FCC, when meeting us in an office at the Copenhagen headquarters.

"Only five years ago there were the occasional guests, now we could entertain each week and it's clubs, coaches and federations from all over the world," he continues and while it makes someone like him increasingly busy, and Tribalfootball can confirm, he has been hard to reach, he is also only too aware what kind of relations it suddenly creates when the U19 from FCC wins a Champions League-group.

"It opens new doors and there are also places we'd like to visit," says Sune Smith-Nielsen who was placed in charge of developing talents 15 years ago, starting off with coaches like Brian Riemer and Johan Lange. With the former now managing Belgian giants Anderlecht and the latter having only recently transferred from Aston Villa to Tottenham, it is clear FCC not only develops players.

Winning their group with 13 points from 18 possible and taking four points off Manchester United along the way, the season ranks highly in the annals among international youth results at FCC, who sees a direct effect in their players when taking part in the UYL compared to when not qualifying. There is an actual difference in how many players go on to have a professional career.

"It is a