Motherwell have suffered a Europa Conference League blow as Ibrahim Said will miss their qualifier away to HJK. The Nigerian striker, who netted the winner against Hibs at the weekend, has been unable to travel to Helsinki because of a visa issue.
Said has remained in Scotland and Dylan Williams will also miss out, although Alfred Johansson has been able to add Johnny Koutroumbis and Alex Lowry to his squad for tonight’s first-leg in the Bolt Arena in Helsinki.
Johansson confirms visa issue
Johansson confirmed: “Ibrahim hasn’t been able to travel. He is fine but there have been some issues with travelling. It was a visa issue. He is not here so it is not sorted and that is how it is, unfortunately.
“We have a quality player here (Willy Vogt) that can play in the same position, we have Mikey Booth and Alex Lowry have done really well. Obviously, we would want him to be here but now it is time for others to show what they can do. What a gift at the same time to have a fresh Ibrahim for Sunday.
“Also, on the negative side, Dylan Williams got a knock in the game against Hibs and isn’t ready for this game. On a positive note, we have Johnny Koutroumbis back. He is in the squad and ready to contribute and addition to Alex Lowry, so we look good.”
Barbed wire and energy drinks
Johansson told his Motherwell players they would need to eat barbed wire before their away win against HB in the last round. He joked that is still on the menu for HJK with a few additional energy drinks.
He laughed: “It worked, so we have put the same on the menu this week. It is a slightly different style of opponent in terms of style of play, but it then there are other things.
“So it will be more than barbed wire, we will need some energy drinks in the legs because we are going to have to run and sprint a lot. They are really fast in their runs in behind and strong in possession. Also going on astro, as soon as you face teams it is very quick.
“It is a different type of challenge and it is a big one.”
Focus on HJK, not Freiburg
The winners of this tie play will play Freiburg in the playoff round but Johansson admitted him and his team can’t afford to look past the Finns.
The Swede claimed: “For me, it is the next game. We play tomorrow and we look forward. It is nice for me to be back in Scandinavia to play here. It is a big, big challenge.
“It is a Helsinki side that has played 17 consecutive seasons with some sort of European football, whether it be group stage or the qualification rounds. They have had one defeat at home in the last 10 years.
“It is massive challenge. To then start to start thinking about things in a couple of weeks would just be north of stupid.”
Family matters and away support
Johansson couldn’t get his dad out to the Faroes and he won’t be in Finland either because he has has to go to Norway to empty the Motherwell manager’s old flat.
He confirmed: “Unfortunately, no. He is actually going to Norway to sort my old apartment. We will see when he can be present at the game.”
Motherwell will also be roared on by a sold-out away section. Johansson knows that away support could play a big part on the night.
The former Rosenborg manager beamed: “This just puts a big smile on my face. I hear we have sold all the tickets, 550. There are many other fans who are traveling and will try to get a ticket.
“So roughly 600 or more travelling form Scotland. It is summer vacation, the kids start school next week and they need to buy things for the kids for school, but people use their money to come here and support us. I know the flights and hotels and Scandinavia are not cheap.
“What a passion, what a commitment. It is a big boost for to play in a difficult environment to have them behind us.
“In Edinburgh and the Faroes, we felt it and we know how much it gives us to the game. Also being able to celebrate with them is massive. That energy definitely to transmits to the dugout and to the players.”
