Euro spot tops lot for Alexander
GRAHAM ALEXANDER is adamant that leading Motherwell into Europe trumps the promotions he won as the manager of Fleetwood Town and Salford City.
The Fir Park boss has guided Well from bottom of the Premiership to fourth in 16 months on one of the lowest top-flight budgets and insists his team won’t be on the beach when they travel to Celtic Park today ahead of their hosts’ trophy presentation.
Alexander said: “We aren’t going to ruin the title party – we want to cement fourth place. Our motivation is about ourselves and our club. We still have something to play for in terms of trying to stay in the position we are.
“We have to try to get something from Celtic and it is a tough challenge as they have had an unbelievable season and are deserved champions.”
Motherwell have also had a great campaign after getting off to a flier and surviving a post-New Year slump to finish strongly. So their gaffer has no doubt where taking his team into Europe ranks in his managerial career.
He said: “This means as much to me as the promotions I’ve won. The clubs I managed before were about winning promotion to get to the next level. We were able to achieve that whereas here we know we probably won’t win the league or get second right now.
“So it’s about getting the best finish we can and we’ve done that.”
Alexander will turn his attention to contracts when the final whistle blows but will almost certainly offer an extension to Kevin van Veen.
The Dutch striker would love to stay longer but isn’t stressed about his future.
The 30-year-old said: “We’ll have to sit round the table and see what we all want. I’ve had a really good time here. Motherwell have been an amazing, warm club and very good since the day I walked in the door. Everybody around the club, not just the players and staff but the chefs, cleaners, kitman everybody is together.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence in myself. If the club decides for whatever reason that they don’t want to continue with me, I think I’m good enough to get a club somewhere. My ability speaks for itself and there will be others clubs thinking I am a good player.
“But that’s not what I’m looking for, I’m a happy man here. I’m respected, valued and that works the other way as well.”