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Motherwell’s players have been told to “go home and eat some barbed wire” as manager Alfred Johansson prepares for a demanding decider away to HB Torshavn on Thursday. <\/b><\/p>\n
The Fir Park side fly to the Faroe Islands carrying a 2-0 lead from a commanding Conference League qualifying first-leg victory last week. <\/p>\n
Johansson’s team dominated the ball and the stats but, against a team who have not lost at home in European competition for five years, the Swede is preaching caution as he eyes a place in the third round.<\/p>\n
“We’re going to try have a good performance,” said the Motherwell boss.<\/p>\n
“You have to respect the team that we’re going to play and you’re going to have to respect the place where we’re going to play.<\/p>\n
“In 10 years, I believe they’ve lost twice at home in European qualification.<\/p>\n
“The last five years, they lost zero times at home, in European qualifications, and that includes Brondby, which is a big club in Denmark. It includes Maccabi Haifa. It includes Helsinki. So these are pretty big, big clubs. <\/p>\n
“And to think that you’re just going to go there and grab a victory real simple, then you fool yourself.<\/p>\n
“So I told the guys today ‘go home and eat some barbed wire’ and prepare for the battle because it’s going to be a battle and you’re going to have to be strong and brave to play our way.<\/p>\n
“But the intensity is going to have to be there. Otherwise, there’s no need to travel.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n