Hibs set Conference League target as clear Shkendija focus emerges after mistakes prove costly vs Motherwell
Hibs are looking ahead to their next match in the Conference League.
Felix Passlack insists Hibs have to take a good result with them to North Macedonia next week as they prepare for Shkendija on Conference League business.
David Gray’s side suffered an opening day Premiership setback on Sunday with a 2-1 loss against Motherwell at Easter Road but can’t afford to dwell on it. Their third game in seven days at home comes in the form of their third round qualifier first leg after overcoming a 2-0 deficit to beat Kosovan side Malisheva 4-3 on aggregate last week. Shkendija will provide a step up in class after they progressed out of the league phase of the Conference League last season before knockout play-off round elimination.
They have racked up 10 goals in qualifying so far and edged out Slovenian side NK Bravo 4-3 on aggregate in the second qualifying round. Former Borussia Dortmund right-back Passlack will start to turn attentions to Shkendija on Tuesday after some rest following the Motherwell clash and he knows how key a positive result on home soil could be before the away encounter seven days later.
How are Hibs preparing for Conference League qualifiers?
Passlack said: “Obviously on Sunday and Monday I am not thinking about Thursday. It starts on Tuesday then. That we clear our mind. Different competition, different opponent. We have to make sure that we get a good result in the first leg. And then to be ready for Rangers this Sunday and then for the second leg.”
The result versus Motherwell proved frustrating for the German defender and his teammates. An uneventful first half was followed up by waves of Hibs pressure against an injury-hit claret and amber side who also played Conference League qualifiers prior to the battle in Leith. Slack possession allowed the away team to initiate a costly counter but Passlack feels the response to losing the ball ought to have been better from a Hibs perspective too. Chance creation was high, and there was style in the way they attacked, as a sucker punch soon took the wind out their sails.
There were positives to take from how they approached the second half but it was a lesson in why being clinical in matches can prove the difference. Passlack added: “Big frustration, obviously. I think we had better moments in the game, better chances. I think we had 21 shots on goal, 15 in the second half. It's just frustrating that we lost the game. these kind of things happen in games. We just wanted to weigh that plan down. Yeah, I mean that we lose the ball, we are fine with that. But I think the reaction has to be better after that.
“Everyone is making mistakes on the pitch. It's all about the reaction after that. Motherwell has the quality to score from it. Like I said, big disappointment. The second half in general was really good. We created a lot of chances. Also the way we played football was good. We just have to be a bit more clinical in the box. And yeah, that's it.”
How do rivals feel about Hibs?
Lukas Fadinger was on the other side of the clash, scoring Motherwell’s first half penalty, before Martin Boyle replied with a spot-kick for Hibs. Ibrahim Said got the winner towards the end of regulation time, and as Alfred Johansson’s side prepare for their third round qualifier first leg with HJK Helsinki in Finland this Thursday after defeating Faroese outfit HB Torshavn, Fadinger was impressed with how the Hibees imposed themselves on his team.
He said: “I'm really happy with the situation, and I hope I can keep going, and maybe a few goals more. It's always easier when you win games. It's really intense, but I think it's the best that you can have as a footballer, having games every three days, especially playing in Europe, but also we need to focus on the league, that's our main target. It's really hard to come here at Easter Road and win a game. I think they're physically so good, and I mean, as it’s already been mentioned, we had so many changes to last year.
“I think so many key players left us, new players came in, so we're pretty much a new group, and it's always hard. The first games are always hard, and I think we did really well. I think our big goal is to be in the top six, but we know it's really hard to get there, and also with so many new players, it will be a long way, but I think that's everyone's goal.”