I’VE BEEN CHECKING IN WITH MY TRIP ADVISERS
Alexander taking travel advice as he plans Euro route for Steelmen
GRAHAM ALEXANDER admits he’s already taking tips on European jaunts as he prepares for his first test as a boss on the continent.
The Motherwell gaffer was glued to the laptop yesterday as his side came out of the Europa Conference League hat with Bala Town or Sligo Rovers.
Alexander’s men are at home for the first leg of the second qualifying round tie and then head to Wales or Ireland for the return seven days later.
Steelmen staff won’t know their opponents until the week before the first game but the gaffer’s work is already under way.
Alexander is savouring the prospect of a Euro challenge for the first time in the technical area.
And he said: “I usually just wait around for cup draws.
“But I wanted to sit down and watch because it is the first time I’ve experienced it.
“I’ve played in Europe for Scotland. I understood how to travel, prepare and come up against different opponents.
“But I’ve not experienced it as a manager and it was something we were all highly motivated to achieve once we got the opportunity last season.
“So I’m speaking to people who have had previous managerial experiences of being in Europe.
“I planned to speak with them about travelling and everything when I knew who we were playing, just to get some tips on how others have planned and prepared because these games are a bit different.
“They have a different feel about them.
“The travelling and stuff, it’s really exciting.
“I’m excited, I know the players will be and the supporters showed at the end of last season how excited they are. It’s a new one for me but it’s a long time coming.”
Alexander won’t get the plane trip he was craving but the draw is a positive one in travelling terms at such an early stage of the season.
He said: “That should help. I said last season I was looking forward to a plane journey somewhere but it doesn’t seem to be that way – more like a ferry for this one.
“But it’ll be a game against one of two competitive teams.
“We had four players still playing on Tuesday due to the internationals, so they’ll start back later and then the games will come thick and fast.
“Maybe the lack of travelling and the fact we’re at home in the first leg will help, even though we’re going to Austria for a training camp anyway.
“It’s all part and parcel of being in Europe. Wherever we play, we must be prepared for it and get the job done.
“The club will look after us, we have good professionals and we’ll be ready to go.”
It will take careful planning to get the preparation bang on as Alexander added: “I’m the old-fashioned type who thinks we’re just playing football.
“At the same time, if you want the quality to be high when we compete, then we have to look after the players as much as we can.
“We work exceptionally hard but we also have recovery sessions. After 10 months of a hard season there’s a certain amount of time off you need.
“Having spoken to our players and been an international player, though, you’d rather be involved in all that than not.
“There were plenty of seasons when I had a really long break but that was because we hadn’t been successful. I know which way I preferred it.”
Alexander is also working on recruitment, with midfielder Blair Spittal first in from Ross County on a two-year deal.
Alexander said: “You can sign enough players within two days of the season finishing if you wanted to but it’s about getting the right ones.
“We have the basis of a real good squad but it’s always important to add to that with fresh blood. Blair was a great start.
“We are working hard to do that and ideally if we can get them in before preseason, that is really
important.”
I was looking forward to a plane journey but it’s more like a ferry for this one GRAHAM ALEXANDER ON UPCOMING EURO CLASH