Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson has rated the Conference League victory over HJK Helsinki as one of the finest of his managerial career. A double from Ibrahim Said at Fir Park secured the win, and the Steelmen now face Freiburg in the play-off round.
Johansson praises performance
Johansson, who has previously managed Rosenborg, said the display was among the best he has seen. He told reporters: "At least 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."
He added: "But I felt today we took another step in the direction in how we want to look on the ball. It's complicated when you can't train. When you gather a new group of people and you need to build relationships and to play this way and you're always on recovery and preparing for the next game, it's difficult. The guys need to transfer talk from video sessions into the game and they did it."
Said's heroics and visa update
Said, who missed the first leg in Finland due to a visa issue, was the match-winner. Johansson confirmed he expects the visa to be resolved before the Freiburg trip: "I expect that (visa) yes, especially as we start at home and we have more time to get it done."
He praised Said's performance: "Outstanding performance. 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 back on and try to do better, impressive."
Record crowd and Freiburg ban
More than 8,000 fans attended the match, with Johansson noting: "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. 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."
Johansson has banned any talk of Freiburg, with the focus now on the Premier Sports Cup match against Stenhousemuir away. He confirmed: "That's the best. We are here every day to play matches so we get paid to play football so to see Sunday as something negative I'd never dream of that. I'm not thinking about Freiburg. I'm not thinking about them. It's Stenhousemuir. I'm trying to learn the accent. I do my best!"
