We will try to get some luck.” But there is no guarantee that either English side will chorus the wonderfulness of Copenhagen’s many attractions two weeks down the line.. Bayern are more predictable, very disciplined, very physical, very determined one on one and all of them two metres tall and shooting very hard. United just go full speed ahead, short pass, long pass, they don’t care, they can do both and when they get into your box they are poison, so dangerous.” Any players he particularly admires? “That Keane, how do you say, he has lungs like a horse and Giggs, so fast, and the one on the right, what’s his name?” Beckham. “Ah, Beckham, good feet.”Alex Ferguson would be wise not to be fooled by this assessment. Skovdahl will have departed Old Trafford yesterday with a shrew idea of weaknesses as well as strengths. “United know us better than the other two and their philosophy is quite different. Barcelona are very technical, a lot of quick passing, and are best at changing the pace of the game.

The Laudrups were the most gifted students of the Brondby youth academy, which is fed by 60 teams from the ages of eight through to 16. “No,” Skovdahl says, “we have no more Laudrups at the moment.”But in Ebbe Sand, Brondby have a strong skilful goalscorer who could well join the export trade once the European trail has gone cold. United, says Skovdahl, pose a different set of problems from Bayern or Barcelona not least because United won their last friendly, in the summer, 6-0, and because Schmeichel’s massive presence could scramble the minds of the Brondby forwards.”I know now what we mustn’t do,” Skovdahl says. “She only had two boys and I always say to her, she should have had more for the sake of Danish football.” He laughs, a nicotine-stained chuckle.

His sister is the mother of the two Laudrups, Michael and Brian. Besides leading Brondby to their third successive league title last season, Skovdahl’s status is enhanced by his family. An ambling, grey-haired man in jeans and jersey, cigarette glued to the end of his fingers, Skovdahl once played for Brondby and is in his third – and most successful – spell as their coach. These clubs have high expectations and there is a lot of money involved But they are still football people. They have not forgotten that football is the main thing.”Skovdahl has until Wednesday evening to banish any vestiges of awe from his young team. Ties between the two clubs have strengthened since the transfer of Peter Schmeichel.