Craig Brown admitted the 3-0 victory over Aalesund flattered his team as they booked their place in the Europa League play-offs.
But the Motherwell boss is now looking forward to the draw for the next round which could pair the Steelmen with one of European football’s great names.
‘Well came flying out the blocks in the second-leg at Fir Park and were 2-0 up inside 13 minutes thanks to goals from Jamie Murphy and John Sutton.
And after coping admirably with some sustained pressure in the second-half, substitute Jonathan Page added a third late on.
Despite the emphatic look to the scoreline Brown was full of praise for the Norwegian visitors: “Aalesund played very well, as we knew they would.
“They put us under a lot of pressure and if they could finish their chances a little better they could have scored a goal here.
“I would say the result flattered us. We were very disciplined and organised, and we defended very well, but there is definitely and argument to say that we actually played better over in Norway.”
The Steelmen could not have wished for a better start when Chris Humphrey marauded down the right flank before cutting the ball back for Murphy to lash home majestically from the edge the area on four minutes.
It was his seventh European goal as he cements his new club record and his manager was full of plaudits for the 21-year-old who appears to be coming of age ahead of the new season.
“Murphy had a fantastic game.” said Brown. “His assist late on also shows what kind of lad he is, and the spirit we have in the camp here.
“He could have gone on and tried to score for himself but he was aware enough to square the ball to young Page.”
Motherwell can now look to tomorrow afternoon’s draw in earnest, where they could face a lucrative tie against the likes of Liverpool, Juventus PSV Eindhoven or even moneybags Manchester City.
And Brown is well aware of the benefits a glamour tie would bring to the club.
“I would obviously be delighted to draw a Juventus or Liverpool.” The boss smiled. “But we are simply delighted to be in the next round. It is important to realise what a good side we were up against, and what a good result this is for the club.
“The Chairman will certainly be smiling and everyone at the club can look forward to whoever we draw in the next round tomorrow.”
A bumper crowd of over 7,700 at Fir Park for the match is another reason for the Chairman to be cheerful, and the manager was delighted with the vociferous support offered from the stands as the Steelmen garnered a fantastic victory.
“The fans were terrific; they were patient and supportive” Brown praised. “I warned before the game that Aalesund were a very good side and that the crowd would have to be patient. Our fans understood that and backed us all night.
“At no point did I feel the game was safe. I knew Rekdal would be in the dressing room telling his players to get one more goal, and then they would be right back in the game; and, in fairness, they had a real go in the second-half and played very well.”
