Joe Hodge remains defiant that Motherwell can still salvage their Conference League dream despite a 3-1 first-leg defeat to Freiburg at Fir Park.
The 10-man Steelmen face a tough task in Thursday's return leg at the Europa Park Stadium against last season's Europa League finalists. Hodge, who made his European debut in the match, insists the team are capable of springing a surprise.
Mountain to climb
"Absolutely, we've seen what the atmosphere can be like at that stadium," the 23-year-old acknowledged. "We know it's a mountain to climb, but we know we're capable of doing it. I think we showed at times, if we can go and show what we're about, you never know what can happen. We've just got to go there and win."
Hodge pointed to promising spells in the first leg as evidence of what Motherwell can produce. "We showed at moments what we could do, especially the first 10 minutes, the first 20 minutes even, were really good. We've got to go and replicate that. We showed good moments where we can get on top of them. We can definitely show our style of play and impose that on them, and we're going to have to look to go and do that even more next week in Germany."
Mentality and belief
The former Wolves youngster stressed the importance of mentality going into the tie. "Honestly, no. I think where we are as a team, we need to be going and looking to win these games. We didn't go into the game with any fear. We knew they were a good side, but this team is used to playing good sides when we go to Celtic, when we go to Rangers. We're never going to be happy with a 3-1 loss at home, and that's something we've got to... obviously we worked really hard, we showed some good stuff, but there's definitely more to come."
Hodge praised the progress made under Alfred Johansson, who has developed the side from last season under Jens Berthel Askou. "Yes, I think you can see it. At times we had to sit a bit deeper because they were obviously a good side, but I think you can always see it's clear whether we're playing on the astro last week or today. We're trying to play with the football; we're trying to show what we're about, so it's just a case of going and doing it for longer periods of the game over there next week."
Frustration and support
Hodge expressed disappointment at the two-goal deficit. "Disappointment really. I think we had good moments in the game, but we didn't show it for 90 minutes I don't think. Obviously they were a good side, but we've given ourselves a mountain to climb next week. So now our task is to reset and go and show what we can do next week."
He rued the manner of the goals conceded. "Yeah, it was two set pieces, and I've not seen the penalty back. How we got ourselves in that situation, but to concede two set pieces, especially when you've been working so hard without the ball to keep them out, it's frustrating. I think we left everything out there, but you can't take away from the disappointment. Playing to lose a game, it's never what you want to do. Like I said, we'll look to build from it and we'll go and give our best next week."
More than 8,000 fans stayed to applaud the players at full-time, a gesture Hodge appreciated. "It was fantastic at the end of the game," the Irish international said. "Everyone stayed until the last second, until that third goal went in. The support we got through the whole game was incredible. We're sorry we couldn't get a result today but we'll give it everything we've got next week."
First European start
The summer signing from Tondela made his first European start and only his second Motherwell appearance, following a shock Premier Sports Cup defeat at Stenhousemuir. "It's been great. Obviously, the result wasn't what we wanted either at Stenny on the weekend, but I've not got a bad word to say about the gaffer, about how the lads have welcomed me. It's been really good. Hopefully, we start to pick up some better results from what I've had so far but it's been really good."
Hodge was keen to return to top-flight football after Tondela's relegation. His move was delayed due to a sell-on clause held by Wolves. "I was over in Portugal, so they made it real difficult to get out of there, but with the work of the club and everyone was pushing really hard to make it happen, I'm just glad I'm here. Yes, as soon as I spoke to the gaffer, I was desperate to come here but things got delayed for whatever reason, all sorts of stuff. I had to go and get papers done at the embassy in London, stupid stuff like that, that made me have to wait a bit longer, but I'm just happy to finally get it done."
