Johannes Hoff Thorup had his say on the key issues around an opening Belgian pre-season tour friendly 3-0 defeat to Club Brugge in Roeselare.

Adam Idah started for the first time under the Dane, with the club's Scottish Euro2024 contingent and Marcelino Nunez after his Copa America exploits for Chile, interested spectators at the Schiervelde stadion.

City were 2-0 down to the Belgian champions inside nine minutes through fine finishes from home captain Hans Vanaken and Gustaf Nilsson.

Ferran Jutgla added a third after the interval with City old boy Christos Tzolis making his home debut after a recent move from Germany.

Thorup spoke exclusively to the Pinkun after the game on Wednesday night at the Schiervelde Stadion, in Roeselare.

Your assessment of the game?

Of course, we didn't get the start that we wanted. I think we were a little bit too sloppy on the ball. I think maybe also the speed of the game was a little bit too much for us in the beginning.

But I'm impressed with the way that we responded after 10 very, very hard minutes in the beginning. And I think actually from then to half-time we looked like a team who created chances and should also have scored goals.

Before we left the hotel this afternoon I said to the players to expect there will be a tough game. So I expected good moments for us, but also expected that we had to work hard in moments as well.

No Shane Duffy or Christian Fassnacht in the squad?

Farsi had a little knock in training the other day so for that reason we didn't want to play him. We don't take any risks in pre-season. There's no need for that. Shane the same. He had a knock in the (Northampton) game.

Actually was able to do a couple of training sessions with us since but felt it again. So no risks there either. Elliot Myles had to go off at the end, but it was just a dead leg.

Any progress on the left back hunt? 

With all due respect to the players that we already have, that's where my focus is at the moment. Of course, everyone can see we maybe need some strengthening in that (left back) position.

I think it's just a matter of when everything gets sorted and we find the right player at the right timing with the right quality that we need. So that's my answer here for now.

(Is Callum Doyle the right player?) 

Maybe. I don't waste that much time on that. I am in the meetings when I’m needed, otherwise I focus on the team and the players that we have. It's the most important thing for now.

The transfer window will last until the end of August. So if I was spending too much time and too many hours on that I will forget my team and that's not something I can do.

- The Pink Un will be providing full coverage of the Canaries' time in Belgium, including both friendly matches against Club Brugge and Standard Liege, in partnership with Chips Away Norwich