I’LLFIGHT ALFREDO
we still have areas to improve on and we won’t be getting carried away but we also know we are a very good team in our own right.
“Rangers have also hit a decent run of form so it should be a cracking match.”
Hartley readily admits it would be the biggest game of his career to date should Motherwell reach the Final.
The Steelmen haven’t won domestic silverware since they triumphed 4-3 against Dundee United in the epic 1991 Scottish Cup Final.
And it’s seven years since Stuart McCall guided Motherwell to their last final appearance when the Steelmen lost 3-0 to Celtic in the 2011 Scottish Cup Final.
Hartley said: “It would mean the world to me if I could reach the Final.
“I’ve reached a play-off final previously in my career but this is different. It would be the biggest game of my career. If the gaffer selects me then I will leave everything out there on the pitch and give it my all.
“We have set the standard with out recent performances and the gaffer won’t allow us to drop off from that.”
Having scored the winner against Hamilton in the 2-1 Lanarkshire derby win at the Superseal Stadium on Saturday, Hartley revealed he was then heading back home to spend some quality time with his family.
And he added: “I’m not sure if my family are coming up to watch the semi-final, we will need to sort that out over the next few days.
“I am going back down the road for my little boy Emerson’s christening so I will find out then who will be going to Hampden.” From Back Page is nicknamed ‘The Buffalo’, revealed earlier this season that he loved the rough-and-tumble of Premiership football and that his robust style was well suited to the Scottish game.
But Hartley, who bagged the winner in Saturday’s 2-1 Lanarkshire derby win over Hamilton Accies, is ready to go toe-to-toe with the 21-year-old at Hampden Park on Sunday.
He said: “If that’s one of Morelos’ strengths, then we’ll see what happens.
“I don’t mind a physical fight. If he wants one after the match as well, I won’t be going anywhere.
“I’m at the stage of my career where I really want to experience these big occasions.
“It would mean the world to me if I could reach the Final. It’d be the biggest game of my career.
“If the gaffer selects me then I’ll leave everything out there on the pitch.”