READY FOR BATTLE
Csaba Laszlo last night challenged his players to write history – or else prepare to be shipped out of Tannadice in the summer.
The Dundee United manager spoke out on the eve of tonight’s crunch Premiership play-off semi-final second-leg clash with Livingston having gone down 3-2 in Monday night’s first leg.
The Tangerines face a serious fight to make it through to next week’s play-off final in their quest to seal a top-flight return following a two-year absence from the Premiership, and their fired-up Hungarian boss has told his players it is all down to them if they want to have a future at the club.
Laszlo said: “This is a unique chance. It’s not about tactics or running around. It’s so much more important because this is just about your life.
“They have a unique chance to be part of history. They can write the history books by going all the way, or if you fail completely then it wouldn’t be so nice.
“That is my message, to be honest.
“Do you want to be part of the future? If not, then we have to choose someone else who wants to be with us and move forward.
“It’s like this because we have a responsibility towards the fans and the club.
“I am saying to them simply
0 Thomas Mikkelsen, celebrating his goal in Monday’s first leg, is convinced Dundee United are a better team than Livingston. that it’s in your hands to do it. Either you can succeed or move out.
“This must be the target to get to the Scottish Premiership and to have players who want to be part of the future here.
“If you want to be part of Dundee United’s future do something – if not then move out.
“I need people who really want to achieve something. In this situation, you need warriors and not always fantastic football players to get out of the Championship, which is such a competitive league.”
United are still hurting from Monday night’s late collapse when they threw away a 2-1 lead to give Davie Hopkin’s men the advantage going into tonight’s showdown.
Laszlo, who has been assured by chairman Mike Martin he will still be at the helm next season even if they don’t clinch promotion, has ordered his men to up their game in their hour of need.
CSABA LASZLO He said: “It was very painful the other night but now we have the second leg to look forward to.
“We definitely have to score two goals more than Livingston to get to the next stage.
“It will be very difficult as Livingston can play on the counter-attack. For us, if we don’t use our heads better than we did on Monday and aren’t clever, it will be a hard evening for sure. I have asked the players to be more clinical and score more goals – and for the defence to not make individual mistakes like they did in the first leg.”
Thomas Mikkelsen, who was on target on Monday, said: “I still think we are a better team than Livingston which we showed on Monday night. For me, I think they have had the luck. It was such a big disappointment when we threw everything away late on with two late goals. It was a big hit. We have picked ourselves up though and will be ready. I am still confident we can beat them.”
Skipper Willo Flood is suspended after his sending-off in the dying minutes of Monday’s defeat, but defender Bilel Mohsni has shaken off a groin injury to be fit, although Mark Durnan is a doubt with flu.
Livingston captain Craig Halkett insists being teammates on the pitch and friends off it is a huge factor in the
0 Craig Halkett: Close-knit.
“In this situation, you need warriors and not always fantastic football players togetoutofthe Championship”
Lions’ push for promotion. The West Lothian side have exceeded all expectations after starting the campaign with hopes of simply consolidating their position in the second tier following last season’s League 1 title success.
Former Rangers trainee Halkett said: “We’re a closeknit group and I’ve not been in a changing room like it. There’s no cliques and everyone is close.
“We all get on very well and I think that carries on to the