Motherwell boss Alfred Johansson has told his players to steel themselves for a fierce second-leg test away to HB Torshavn on Thursday at 18:00 BST.
The Fir Park side travel to the Faroe Islands with a 2-0 advantage from a dominant first leg in the Conference League second qualifying round. Despite controlling possession and the stats last week, Johansson urged caution, noting that HB have been formidable at home in Europe—just two home defeats in qualifying over the past decade and none in the last five years—against clubs such as Brondby, Maccabi Haifa and HJK Helsinki.
Johansson said the aim is simply to deliver a strong performance while respecting both the opposition and the venue. He warned that expecting an easy win would be naive and told his squad to brace for a battle, stressing they’ll need strength, bravery and high intensity to play their way—otherwise, he said, there’s no point making the trip.