Motherwell defender Stephen O’Donnell believes the squad is capable of a strong finish to the Premiership season but will be “disappointed” if they don’t achieve a European place after an impressive campaign to date.
Jens Berthel Askou’s side travel to face Celtic on Saturday in fourth place, five points behind Martin O’Neill’s men who lie second, off the back of just their fourth league defeat of the campaign having succumbed 2-1 to Dundee last weekend.
Despite that, and now facing top-six teams in each of their final nine league fixtures, O’Donnell is adamant belief remains intact.
“It wouldn’t have dented confidence, but it did hurt,” the Scotland international conceded when reflecting on that loss.
“I think it had been a long time that we hadn’t lost [in the league]. It’s just so important that we do react.
“If we don’t end with anything, finishing in Europe now, at this stage would be obviously disappointing, because we’ve done so well through the season.
“The three [teams] above aren’t going to make it easy.
“It’s all to play for. I think the remaining games we’ve got certainly a hard run-in, but we’ve played these teams before, and we’ll compete.
“We are striving along with the manager for perfection, for wins every week and clean sheets. We want that, but it obviously isn’t always possible and we’ll do everything we can on Saturday to get something.”
Motherwell defeated Celtic in their last meeting, a comprehensive 2-0 win over a side then led by Wilfried Nancy. They narrowly lost on their earlier visit to Celtic Park when Brendan Rodgers was in charge having led late in the game until playing out from the back handed their opponents an equaliser.
O’Donnell pinpoints that match as one that really helped galvanise squad belief in Askou’s approach.
“The goalkeeping pass from Calum [Ward], it’s as if, ‘He’s hopeless, he shouldn’t be playing,'” O’Donnell explained.
“It’s like a narrative that then gets spun from individuals.
“The gaffer’s calm, ‘I ask him to play like that.’ That’s the things that get you belief and get the players buying into you because you don’t try and throw us under the bus when things don’t go well.
“We’re confident, we’re not over-confident. I’m not any more confident in my ability as a footballer. I’m not any quicker, I’m not any better on the ball, but I’ve got a belief that the manager has given us and I think we’re capable of delivering that.
“He believes we are all part of the club. He doesn’t really look at individuals so much, it’s about what we can bring for the team. That’s part of why you buy into what he sells, because he believes in it, he’s passionate about it, and he gives you the information to go and try and deliver it.
“We’re delighted the wins have come and put us in the position we are.”
