Stephen Robinson spoke to the media on Friday morning, ahead of the weekend’s final Betfred Cup match with Annan Athletic.
The Motherwell boss covered the game itself, as well as new signing Christy Manzinga, the departure of Danny Johnson and the potential for further additions.
On Annan Athletic
“I think it is going to be a tough game. There’s not been loads in their games.
“Morton scored late goals against Annan. Dumbarton only beat them by a goal. No game is easy.
“You seen Crusaders against Wolves last night. If a team sits in, no matter what quality you have it’s very, very difficult to break them down. As we found against Dumbarton, as we found against Queen of the South as well.
“We are going to have to be patient. We have to move the ball quickly and hope that our forward players can produce a little bit of magic.
“But again, patience will be the key.”
On Christy Manzinga
Yeah we’ve had Christy [Manzinga] for over a month now. He’s really impressed me.
“He’s like Cedric [Kipré]. A little bit older, but he’s had to wait for his opportunity.
“He’s really exciting, I think. He’s a gamble worth taking. Really quick, really strong. Gives us another option as a number nine and in wide areas.
“It’ll still be another month or so before we see him on the pitch. But I feel he will be a decent signing for us if he progresses.”
On Danny Johnson
“Danny [Johnson] hasn’t played for me since Ross County in the cup in January. He hasn’t started a game.
“He’s a brilliant boy, Danny. He has been exemplary with his attitude. Some players when they’re not in the team aren’t. But he has been.
“It was unfair of me to keep him here and not make him a starter. All he wants to do is play football. His attitude has been tremendous at the football club.
“He scored some important goals for us as well. But the direction I am moving in, I didn’t see Danny playing for me.And it’s important to be fair to him as well.
“That’s what we’ve done and he goes with our very best wishes. A very good professional.”
On potential further additions
“There’s still a couple of things ongoing as well, as I’ve said previously.
“It has to be the right person. It has to be a starter.
“We are not going to bring in and fill the squad. We’ve got younger boys in the background we feel can make up that squad.
“It has to be the right person. So we will be patient.
“There’s still a few more weeks left. There may be something done further down the line.”