Stuart McCall has hailed his players and backroom staff after being awarded Clydesdale Bank Manager of the Month for August.
The award comes after the former Scotland International led the Steelmen to second place in the SPL, with just one defeat in six matches.
And a typically modest McCall was keen to see as much of the praise as possible shifted toward the players who have turned the gaffer’s instructions into the ‘Well’s best league start since 1977.
“If anyone wins manager of the month, it’s mainly because the team has been the team of the month,” lauded the Motherwell boss.
“As much as Kenny and I – and all the backroom staff – work ever so hard, it’s the lads who have won it and it’s great to accept.
“There are highs and lows in football and you have got to enjoy the highs like today. But you have just got to continue working hard and improve individually and collectively.
“We’ve had setbacks, we have had some poor performances and fierce defeats since I’ve been here, but it’s the way they have bounced back that has been impressive.
“We’ve managed to do that more often than not and had some big, big performances as well.”
[pullquote]As much as Kenny and I – and all the backroom staff – work ever so hard, it’s the lads who have won it and it’s great to accept.[/pullquote]
The former Everton and Rangers midfielder will now be hoping to buck the trend of the ‘Manager of the Month Curse’ in the most spectacular fashion – with a win at Celtic Park.
But, as much as today’s award adds to a prevailing sense of momentum and confidence at Fir Park, McCall admits that the trip down the M74 will be as tough as ever for the boys in claret and amber.
He continued: “As much as I’m an optimist, I’m a realist. We are under no illusions how tough this will be. Celtic are an excellent side.
“A good Dundee United team went there and Peter [Houston], their manager, was quite happy with their performance even though they lost five goals. That can happen when you go to the Old Firm away from home.
“Away from home you always have it in the back of your mind that if you lose an early goal it could be a long day.
“But I’ve got belief in the players and we’ve got to be as competitive as we can. We’ll make it as difficult as we can but also carry an attacking threat, so that when we get up the park we can create chances and hopefully take them.”
McCall also confirmed that prospective new signing Omar Daley will not be involved on Saturday.
As the manager previously warned, the deal is something of a tangle of red tape, but the Steelmen boss does expect the player to be registered in the coming days, having already put pen to paper.
And he expects the flying winger to be an exciting addition: “Omar Daley has actually signed but we are just waiting for the final bit of paperwork.
“He is flying back into the country but not in time to be involved. He was over playing for Jamaica against Colombia in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday and had to go back to Jamaica to sort all his paperwork out.
“He is more known as a wide player. He has great pace and good feet. I played him down the middle at Bradford at times – he doesn’t have the greatest of goal-scoring records but he is always a threat because of his pace and ability.”