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Askou on Celtic challenge, Motherwell confidence & season run-in

by Luna
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Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou has been speaking to the media before the trip to face Celtic in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

Here are the key points:

  • The Danish boss expects a Celtic side more akin to the one he faced in the 3-2 away defeat when Brendan Rodgers was in charge, as opposed to the Wilfried Nancy team they defeated 2-0 at home.
  • He adds: "Martin [O'Neill] and the rest of the staff have done well in terms of trying to get them back on track in a very hectic time. Some of the things they're doing are very similar to what they were used to when Brendan was there, with a few minor things adjusted."
  • He revealed his excitement heading into this test as the climax to the season draws near: "I expect it to be a great game of football that I can't wait to be part of to experience from the sideline."
  • The Premiership manager of the month added believes his players' confidence has grown over the season, meaning he doesn't "have to show them any inspirational video of a team three years ago going to Celtic and beating them, that anything can happen in football. They know that we're here to compete and we can win if we find our best level."
  • Askou conceded the Premiership run-in will be Motherwell's toughest spell of the campaign facing top-six sides from now until the end of the season.
  • He adds: "I think it's very likely that no team is going to go unbeaten. We've both lost and drawn and won against all the opponents we're going to face now. It is likely that that's going to happen as well."
  • He wants Motherwell to be "up there fighting for the top positions" and says: "I really hope that the next nine games we play will be the strongest nine games, nine performances that we've had in the season."
  • The Fir Park side are off the back of a rare league defeat having fallen 2-1 away to Dundee last weekend. Askou preferred to focus on the performance than the outcome: "We don't have to react. We're doing something that is constant. We have to deal with the emotions that come from a defeat but looking at the performance, it was similar to many of our other performances this season."
  • Regan Charles-Cook suffered a small injury against Dundee and will be out for a few weeks. Matthew Connelly had a knock in training, prompting the return of Aston Oxborough from his Dunfermline loan but but the hope is he can go back to the Pars after this weekend. Stephen Welsh cannot feature against his parent club.
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[BBC]

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