Motherwell boss Alfred Johansson has urged his side to “excite” the Fir Park faithful as they prepare for their crucial second-leg clash against HJK Helsinki.
Victory would secure a mouthwatering UEFA Conference League play-off tie with Bundesliga side Freiburg, who reached the Europa League final last season. With the tie finely poised at 1-1, Johansson is expecting another stern test from the Finnish outfit.
Motherwell and HJK head into Thursday’s Conference League third qualifying round second leg level after last week’s 1-1 draw in Finland.
Tawanda Maswanhise handed the Steelmen a priceless lead from the penalty spot before veteran striker Teemu Pukki produced a superb equaliser for the hosts.
Reflecting on the first-leg performance, Johansson was pleased with his side’s response after the break.
“In the second half we were more fearless and more aggressive,” he said.
“Sometimes you have to manage the momentum of the game, and that’s what we did. Now we must be strong.
“But we are at Fir Park, with all of our people there, and we want to excite them and play our way. We think that’s the best way to get the result we need.
“It’s different and special when you play European games. They’re played later at night, and there’s just another feeling around the place.”
Ahead of the tie, Motherwell confirmed the signing of Republic of Ireland midfielder Joe Hodge from Portuguese side Tondela for an undisclosed fee.
The 23-year-old made his senior international debut for Ireland in June 2026, and Johansson expressed his delight after securing the midfielder’s signature, although Hodge will not be available in time to face Helsinki.
“Absolutely buzzing to have him here,” Johansson added.
“Joe is a very exciting young midfielder. He is mainly a number six in our system, but he can also play in a box-to-box role. We primarily see him operating as a six.
“Joe represents what the number six position has evolved into over the last five years. He has quality on the ball, but he also has the mobility required for the modern game. We believe it’s a perfect match.
“It’s super important to strengthen this area after losing some players. We are a club that needs to identify potential where it may have been overlooked.”
Motherwell v HJK Helsinki (1-1)
7:30pm 13th Aug – Fir Park