Hibs in Motherwell motivation admission as UEFA Conference League qualifiers renew SPFL rivalry
Sides meet at Easter Road before returning to continental campaigns
Hibs boss David Gray insists he’s “delighted” to see Motherwell progressing in Europe. But he’s determined to right a wrong from last season’s encounters with the Steelmen – by inflicting a long-awaited defeat on the visitors to Easter Road tomorrow.
Motherwell were the only Scottish Premiership side Hibs failed to beat last season, with a home loss to the Fir Park side on the final day of the campaign ending the hopes of Gray’s men finishing fourth in the top flight. Under the guidance of the new gaffer, Alfred Johansson, the Lanarkshire side breezed through the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League.
Motherwell made easy progress in UEFA Conference League
Gray, eager to face a side who racked up a 5-0 aggregate win over Faroese opposition, including winning 3-0 in Torshavn on Thursday night, said: “We've got an opportunity at home against a team that's progressed in Europe as well. I'm delighted for them; you want your Scottish clubs to do well. I think that is important. They've started well again.
“They've got a new manager, they'll be a different test slightly. But at the same time I think they're playing quite a similar way and we know it will be a difficult test.
“We want to try and do it right. It's a team that we never beat last season - but we've got an opportunity in the first game to try and do that.
"I think it's all about consistency for us. I think we've demonstrated that in spells last season. I know we went right to the very last game; if we had won the last game of the season we would have finished fourth.
‘Frustrated’ with inability to beat Steelmen
“Probably at times a wee bit frustrated at times last season because I do believe when we put the complete performance in that we're a very good side. And we showed that with the European stuff. We showed that when we won at Celtic Park, or when we won at Ibrox.
“We've added well to the squad this season - but so have every team. I fully expect a real tough season, real competitive season again.
“This is my third season, so I've spoken a lot about that freshness and trying to get new ideas into the players because I don't want them to become comfortable. I'm certainly not comfortable.
“We need to keep pushing forward but certainly being real consistent in the last two seasons, back-to-back European qualification, can we go and do that for the third season? It may be harder this year with the fact that you might have to finish fourth or win a trophy so that's the challenge for the players - and the challenge for myself."
Looking forward to being back at Easter Road after having their home ground bouncing with Thursday night’s 4-1 win over FC Malisheva to secure their own progress to the third qualifying round of the Conference League, Gray added: “We’re certainly going into the game in a real positive frame of mind. It's a big effort required again against Motherwell - but I'll go back to what I said going into the first leg (against Malisheva), which was I'm really happy with how pre-season went, really happy with the physicality of the players.
“We picked up a few knocks and niggles, which is a bit frustrating, but they're getting closer now as well so it is again much more positive. But you can't rest on that, we need to keep moving forward.”