Motherwell boss Alfred Johansson admitted last night’s outstanding Europa Conference League victory over HJK Helsinki was up there with the best of his managerial career.
The Steelmen will join Hibernian – who came through against Shkendija in Skopje – in the play-off round, with a mouth-watering clash against Bundesliga heavyweights Freiburg next week now to come.
Two outstanding solo goals from Ibrahim Said after the interval were enough to see Motherwell sail through 3-1 on aggregate over the Finns, who were thoroughly outclassed in front of a bumper crowd inside Fir Park.
Johansson said: ‘It has to rank quite high. It was two really strong legs from us in Helsinki and here.
‘I’m really pleased to see the effort. I never have to speak about it because it’s always there. But I felt today we took another step in the direction in how we want to look on the ball.
‘We had 8,100 people here, which from what I hear in modern times it’s up there with some of the best games in terms of attendance.
Ibrahim Said is hailed by his Motherwell team-mates after scoring his second goal at Fir Park
‘So pleased and happy and proud to be a part of that. When you’re in the dugout and the players are on the pitch, there’s an energy with these people singing and chanting and it transmits to the pitch and makes us better and stronger as a club.’
Said maintained his positive start to the new campaign under the Swede, who was delighted with his winger’s enterprising display both on and off the ball.
‘It was an outstanding performance,’ he said. ‘I’m so pleased for him. I think he’s been really good at the start of the season in Europe and the league.
‘Against Falkirk he dropped a bit. His effort was so high defensively but wasn’t as good on the ball then a few days later to focus and try to do better, impressive.’
New Well boss Alfred Johansson has overseen a dream start to the season in Lanarkshire
Motherwell welcome Freiburg – last season’s Europa League finalists – next Thursday in the first of two legs but Johansson point-blank refused to look beyond Sunday’s trip to Stenhousemuir in the Premier Sports Cup last 16.
New signing Joe Hodge could be in line to make his debut for the club this weekend, and the manager expects there to be a few more arrivals before the transfer window closes.
He said: ‘We’re not done in this window. There are still things to be done but for us we’re in a situation where we want to be patient and make the right decisions.’
