GET US UP... OR GET OUT
Raging Laszlo warns United stars face axe if they flop in play-off
Csaba LaszLo last night challenged his players to write history — or else prepare to be shipped out of Tannadice in the summer.
Dundee United lost the first leg of their Premiership play-off semi-final against Livingston 3-2 on Monday and face the prospect of a third season in the Championship if they cannot turn things around in the return match at the Tony Macaroni arena tonight.
The United boss has told his players that they need to take control of their own destiny if they want to have a future at the Tayside club.
The Hungarian 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 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 know one thing. These players can still do it, so go and do it.
‘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 after Monday night’s late collapse in front of the TV cameras when they threw away a 2-1 lead to give David Hopkin’s men the advantage going into tonight’s showdown. Laszlo (below) has been assured by chairman Mike Martin he will still be at the helm next season even if United don’t clinch promotion and has ordered his men to up their game in their hour of need. He said: ‘It was very painful the other night but we have the second leg to look forward to. ‘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.
‘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.
‘We have to try to avoid giving away any goals, and after that we will see.
‘I am proud of how hard they have fought for the cause with so many games to deal with recently.
‘Now I want to be even more proud and get this club back to where it belongs.’
Danish striker Thomas Mikkelsen remains convinced the Tannadice side can overturn their deficit in West Lothian.
‘I still think we are a better team than Livingston which we showed on Monday night,’ said Mikkelsen, who is on loan from Ross County.
‘For me, I think they have had the luck.
‘It really was such a big disappointment when we threw everything away late on with two late goals.
‘We have picked ourselves up though and will be ready for Friday night.’
Visiting 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 in contention.
Livingston scored two late goals from Josh Mullin and scott Pittman to take a first-leg lead and captain Craig Halkett admits the Tannadice comeback was proof of the Lions’ fighting spirit.
He added: ‘I think that win just encapsulates what we’re all about.
‘The manager got the message across at half-time that if the match stayed at 2-1, he would have been delighted but, as the match went on, we grew in to it and we kept pushing.
‘To get the two goals in the second half speaks volumes about the team we’ve got and everyone was delighted.’
Halkett, who moved to Livingston from Rangers in January 2016, insists former scotland midfielder Hopkin also deserves great credit for leading the team to the play-offs even though he is working with one of the smallest budgets in the league.
He said: ‘The gaffer has done some job and I think it probably suits him that people don’t talk about him much, he’s going about his business.
‘but I think he deserves a lot of credit. From a personal level, I’ve loved working with him. He’s given me my chance, so I’ve got a lot to repay him for.
‘He’s a great manager and he knows what he wants, and all the players give him that.
‘He also had confidence in me to give me the armband and I would like to think I’ve repaid him.’