Post-Match Press Conference
Motherwell 2–0 Celtic | Fir Park. The Motherwell manager was speaking to the assembled press pack following the match.
How pleased were you with that performance as well as the result? Because I thought you were magnificent tonight.
“Yeah, very pleased. We’ve had a lot of good performances so far this season, including some really big performances against big teams. We had a very big performance against Rangers three days ago, and we knew today we were probably going to need our best, most solid and most all-round performance, both in and out of possession, to win.
“The performances have been really good, but they haven’t led to wins against Rangers and Celtic before, so that was what we needed today, and that’s what we got. It was fantastic to see. We made a slight change in the defensive structure from our normal 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 into a 4-3-3. That allowed us to push out, cut the supply to McGregor, and really push out Oscar and Lucas, two athletes who can run and run, to deal with their central midfielders when they dropped wide to create overloads.
“Dropping out and taking them out fast worked really well, and that was alongside some really impressive play on the ball.”
As well as the play on the ball, were you just as pleased with the way you played off the ball?
“Yeah, absolutely. We knew that was going to be key. If we wanted to have a lot of possession, we needed to be really sharp in our mid-block and press phase. We saw again today that when we get played down low, they have quality and can move the ball really fast.
“It’s hard to find pressing triggers there because they have so many players around the ball and fast circulation. So we knew we had to win the ball higher up the pitch most of the time and make it really difficult for them to progress. Finding that balance and being strong in both phases was extremely important.”
Did you think Said picked a good moment to get his first Motherwell goal?
“He did, yes. And Sarge also picked a good moment. Normally we don’t cross the ball from those distances because the success rate isn’t that high, but when you have a crossing foot like he has, it’s worth trying now and then.
“We’ve also tried to make run more into the box and take more runs. Playing without a normal number nine today, the three guys up front had to make those runs. There were lots of counter-movements, dragging a centre-back out and then exploring the space in behind, and he does that brilliantly.
“I’m really, really happy for him. He’s a fantastic character, so bubbly, positive and energetic. He works so hard for the team and has worked so hard for that first goal. Thank God it didn’t get called off for a free kick somewhere down the middle of the city centre. I’m really pleased for him.”
Was that the best performance of your time here?
“I think it was, yeah. Obviously it’s easy to say that when you beat Celtic 2–0, but when you take everything into consideration, our quality on the ball, our ability to hurt them both in and out of possession, and our ability to shut them down, it was very strong.
“I don’t know the exact numbers, but it was a very low xG against us. They’ve had some really high xGs lately, including the last time we played them. To keep them away from big chances throughout the game, even in the phase where they were chasing at the end, was very, very strong.
“For the players and staff to deliver a performance like that after making a few changes yesterday, with very little time to take on board the information and convert it into this type of performance, was fantastic.”
Does it feel like a big win in terms of progression and development? You’ve had a lot of plaudits, but this feels like a big one.
“I’ve had that question before, do we need a signature win? For us, we’re in it for a signature season. That’s what’s important.
“If we just say we’re fantastic now because we beat Celtic and then mess around for ten games, that doesn’t mean much. I’m sure the fans and everyone connected with Motherwell will remember this night for a long time, and rightly so.
“For us, we’ll look at it tomorrow, what we need to improve, what we did well, then we cross it off the list and move on. It’s three points and a clean sheet, just like the 1–0 win against Dundee. That was just as important and just as big, and we had to fight really hard for that too.
“We need to distil all the positive attention we’re getting right now. It feels good, but it won’t make us better on its own. We’ll use that energy to move forward because we have another extremely important game in three or four days.”
You strike me as someone who is going to constantly challenge the players now.
“That’s my job, isn’t it? That’s what I’m here for. If I stop doing that, then who’s going to?
“The good thing is we have good people in the dressing room and fantastic people on the staff. This club is based on humility, how we approach football, how we operate financially, how we analyse results over time, and how we treat people inside and outside the club. I think we’ll keep doing that.”
Have you been surprised by how successful you’ve been in the first half of the season, particularly in imposing your style?
“I’m probably a little bit surprised that we’ve been able to progress so fast and haven’t struggled more with finding our balance both ways.
“You can quite quickly find structure and quality in one or two phases of the game, but I think we’re finding it in more phases than I would have expected at this point in the season. To reach a really high, consistent level both in possession and out of possession is a big credit to the staff and the players.
“And obviously the support we get from everyone above us at the club, and the buy-in from the fans, plays a huge part.”
Callum McFadden 