Motherwell preparing for 'war' in Conference League crunch as barbed wire called upon to clinch 10-year first

Motherwell players are gearing up for a bruising scrap in the Faroe Islands - as they look to break HB Torshavn’s home resolve in the Conference League.

Alfred Johansson’s injury-hit side have a 2-0 goal aggregate lead and will likely welcome back last season’s top goalscorer, Tawanda Maswanhise, to the squad for the second leg of their second round qualifier away from home. It’s a boost for Motherwell as they head to a team that, while they have won just one away leg in their history, are fierce opponents at home. HB last lost to Levadia Tallinn in the 2016/17 season’s Europa League qualifiers, since going undefeated in eight on their own patch.

HJK Helsinki - who the winner of this tie will most likely play in round three -drew in 2019 and Linfield, Buducnost Podgorica, Maccabi Haifa, Newtown, Derry City, Hadjuk Split and Brondby have all failed to win since. Manager Johansson has told his players ‘to go home and eat some barbed wire and to prepare for the battle’ with an entirely different match expected to the one Motherwell dominated at Fir Park last week. Emmanuel Longelo, who’s also back after returning in leg one from a quad strain, says there will be no underestimating the opposition.

How will Motherwell fare in the Conference League vs HB Torshavn?

“What he said to you lads is exactly what he said to us,” left-back Longelo told reporters ahead of the game. “The phrase speaks for itself, we’ve got to prepare like we’re going into war. You can never underestimate any team, especially when it’s a European competition. We’re going away to a different country where the pitch is different, the atmosphere’s different.

“So a lot of these things play a part. You can never underestimate anyone. The squad’s feeling really good although we know we can’t get ahead of ourselves. It’s only half time. We know they have an outstanding home record. We still go there feeling very confident but we need to keep a steady head.”

Johansson’s side have maintained the possession-based approach that predecessor Jens Berthel Askou brought to Motherwell last season in a fourth-placed Premiership finish. There are some changes from the Dane’s eye-catching style, with key players of last term like Elijah Just and Callum Slattery also moving on, but Longelo insists there are positive signs as their reward for success last term plays out on the continent.

Motherwell's Emmanuel Longelo | SNS Group

Emmanuel Longelo on HB Torshavn vs Motherwell

“I see that in some ways, for sure, but in other ways there are differences,” Longelo added on continuity from Askou’s era into Johansson’s. “So, it’s a good balance. I thought last season was a very good season for me and the team. I’d like to replicate what I did last season - and more. There’s always room for improvement and I don’t think I’m the finished article yet.

“I think we all have the backing of the manager, our confidence in him and the squad as well. We work hard in training and the sessions have been very good, the standard’s been very high. Same as last season. So, yes, there’s real confidence within Motherwell. We worked hard to get this reward of European football. We’re never going to take it lightly. We’re going to go there knowing that we need to do a job. Hopefully we come back having gone through. I want to be playing in European games, Motherwell want to be playing in European games. It’s huge for us.”

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