Motherwell's Swedish manager Alfred Johansson has started his tenure at the Scottish Premiership club with three consecutive wins, including a 2-1 victory at Hibernian on Sunday.
Johansson has made a positive start to life at Motherwell, despite the departures of key players in Elijah Just, Elliot Watt, and Calum Ward. The Swede's team showed resilience in the face of a second-half onslaught from Hibernian, led by summer recruit Martin Moormann's defensive efforts.
The 2-1 win at Easter Road was a testament to Motherwell's spirit and team work, with Ibrahim Said scoring a brilliant winner on the break. Said's goal was the culmination of a slick one-touch passing move involving Alex Lowry and Dylan Williams.
Motherwell's possession-based style, implemented by Johansson, has continued to impress, with the team showing a gritty display against a stronger Hibernian side. Former St Johnstone and Queen's Park manager Callum Davidson praised Motherwell's mentality, saying: "Hibs were the better team in the second half, but then Motherwell get the goal on the counter-attack."
Johansson has fostered a "family" atmosphere in the team, built by his predecessor Jens Berthel Askou. The new manager pointed out that eight players were making their Motherwell league debuts in Sunday's win, five of them from the start. This shows that Johansson has got the right characters in the door.
The recruitment done so far by Johansson appears to be astute, with Moormann and fellow centre-back Jake Girdwood-Reich particularly impressive. The new players have plugged the gaps left by the departed players, while combining with proven performers like Said and academy talents.
Motherwell's good periods at Easter Road got no better than the decisive goal, as they sliced Hibs open with slick one-touch passing. The team's commitment and team spirit have been praised by the players, with midfielder Regan Charles-Cook saying: "The group was so together, it still feels the same. It feels like a family."
The Swedish stopper will face a stern test in the third qualifying round of the Conference League on Thursday against HJK Helsinki. But Johansson and his new-look side have passed every test to date with flying colours, and will be hoping to continue their winning streak.
Source: Yahoo Sports