The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Saints setting sights high for Europa return
Describing St Johnstone as a club with considerable experience of European football is a phrase that sums up just how successful the last few years have been for the Perth club, writes Eric Nicolson.
And it is that experience which is encouraging Liam Craig to set his sights high when Saints begin another Europa League campaign in a few weeks’ time.
“I think the experience the club has in European football will help us,” the former Hibs and Falkirk midfielder said.
“The first year we were in it we played in Turkey and it was almost like we were saying ‘wow, we’re playing in Europe’ and were just glad to be there.
“But it has happened a few times now and there has been some big results like Rosenborg and Luzern, so the lads want more of them.
“We’re not just going into it to make up the numbers. We’ve looked at Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers getting to the groups in the past.”
Craig added: “It has been a while since a Scottish team managed to do that but why can’t it happen this season?
“I’m not saying we’re going to do that because a lot depends on the draw. But we’re at the stage just now that we’ve got to aim for getting there.
“If we get to the third round or the play-offs, will we play a team as good as Celtic? Probably not.
“I think we’ve acquitted ourselves well against them this season so looking at it in terms of Europe, we should believe we can have a right go.
“The experience is there in the squad, the team is settled and the gaffer will hopefully add a couple of new players before it comes around.
“We will be giving it our best shot, if we go out it won’t be due to a lack of effort or a lack of preparation.
“I think if we play like we have done for the majority of this season then we’re capable of giving teams a real game.”
Saints will have to come up with a specific game plan for their first round qualifier, possibly for a team they will never have heard of before the draw, but manager Tommy Wright will not trip his players up by over-complicating their instructions, according to Craig.
He said: “The manager doesn’t ask us anything we’re not able to do.
“He knows what we’re capable of and doesn’t ask us to do anything different.
“He trusts the lads on and off the pitch and the dressing-room trusts him and the staff.
“I have been at clubs where that trust hasn’t been there and things fall apart. But that’s not the case here. The manager knows all the lads inside out and knows how to get the best out of everyone.
“We know what we are and we do a lot of work on stopping the opposition – I think that’s important.
“The gaffer looks at every game and if he spots something in the opposition that means we have a better chance of winning going long then we’ll do that.
“If it’s going to come down to set-plays then we’ll work on that and look to exploit any weaknesses.
“That’s what the game is all about, picking up points in the opposition and trying to capitalise on them.
“And I think that’s what the manager here is very good at.
“We have a great spirit here and that’s down to the man-management.
“He’s lost it a few times in the dressing room but to be fair he’s not had to do it very often, but we know when he does it’s because things haven’t been good enough.
“I think the gaffer would say his job is made easier by the players in our dressing-room as well, though, because it’s a great bunch of lads.
“We have a lot of experience in there, the core of the group has been at the club for a long time and there are high standards.
“The club are bringing through a lot of good, young boys right now as well and they will only learn from the older guys we have.”