BRING IT ON Lasley hopes Steelmen grab Euro chance as team return to training
Keith Lasley had some cracking European adventures while he was a battling midfielder at Motherwell, and hopes the current squad have just as much fun.
The Fir Park club are in this coming season’s Europa League qualifiers for the first time since 2014, and Lasley wants everyone to get stuck in.
UEFA will meet today (Wednesday) for a video conference, when Motherwell’s Europa League pathway is likely to be revealed.
A second qualifying round clash with Icelandic side Sjarnan was ’Well’s last taste of Europe in 2014 and Lasley can’t wait.
He said: “Bring it on – everything it brings we’re looking forward to as a whole.
“It’s something I loved playing in myself, and having the opportunity to do it was a highlight of my career.
“On a personal level, I’m excited to be involved and coaching on that stage as well is certainly an exciting thing.
“All of the players and the manager will be of the same mind-set.
“It’s fantastic, and I just hope the fans are allowed to play their part and are allowed to travel, because when I look back on it, one of the things that sticks out in my memory is the amount of fans that travelled.
“It’s exciting, and when it’s going to happen has still to be sorted out, but I’m really looking forward to that when it comes along.”
Lasley finds it hard to believe it has been six years since Motherwell were last on the European stage, but says the regularity with which they were associated with that level of competition is a credit in itself.
“It’s only when you look back on things that you realise how good it has been,” he said.
“To get a taste of that back again after a long time without it is certainly brilliant for everybody.
“We worked hard last season and it might not have ended the way we thought it would, but this is the reward for that, and the club has to take credit for what is a really good achievement.
“Just competing in it is brilliant and I remember as a player looking forward to the draw.”
Motherwell have resumed training this week and Lasley admits restrictions will take a bit of getting used to.
He said: “There will be some challenges in the initial weeks but we’re hoping, as the weeks go on, that lockdown in general is eased and training restrictions can then ease.”