Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has insisted his side remain desperate to crack European football despite suffering penalty shootout heartbreak in the Viaplay Cup.
The Tangerines were knocked out of the competition by Partick Thistle after a dramatic 4-3 defeat on spot-kicks, following a 2-2 draw in normal time. Goodwin, however, refused to let the setback derail his ambitions for the club.
'We're still hungry for Europe,' declared Goodwin. 'This defeat hurts, but it doesn’t change our objectives. We want to be competing at that level, and the players are fully committed to making it happen.'
The Irishman praised his squad’s resilience but admitted their performance lacked the cutting edge needed to avoid penalties. 'We created chances but didn’t take them when it mattered. That’s something we’ll work on.'
What’s Next for Dundee United?
With the Viaplay Cup dream over, Goodwin has shifted focus to the Scottish Premiership, where Dundee United sit mid-table. The former St Mirren boss believes consistency will be key to achieving their European ambitions.
'Every point counts,' he said. 'We need to grind out results week in, week out. The league is our priority now.'
Fans have rallied behind Goodwin’s vision, with many taking to social media to express their support. One supporter tweeted: 'Gutted about the cup, but Goodwin’s got the right mentality. Europe is the goal!'
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Tannadice Park to see if Dundee United can turn their European dream into reality.
