Graham Alexander doesn’t expect to win a Motherwell popularity contest – and joked that if he wanted to, he’d sell ice cream.
But the Fir Park gaffer wants to show how willing he is to bring the taste of success to ML1.
Motherwell fans are licking their lips at the prospect of a Europa Conference League adventure this season and the ’Well boss is gearing his men up for a second round qualifier later this month against either Bala Town or Sligo Rovers.
That follows a successful 2021/22 Premiership term and once which Alexander feels his side didn’t get enough credit for.
The Steelmen finished fifth but it came about with two contrasting halves of form throughout their campaign.
After accumulating more points than anyone else outside Celtic and Rangers across the calendar year of 2021, Motherwell won just three matches after New Year on league business.
Alexander gets why there was some negativity over his team in the first part of 2022, but he insists they got the job of reaching top six and Europe football done, and that’s all that matters.
The 50-year-old, whose side are in Austria for a pre-season training camp this week, explained: “I don’t bury my head in the sand when there are issues and challenges to overcome, but I try to do it with a positive mindset.
“It’s difficult as we all hurt when there is a negative result or a run of them. We all feel that.
“But I don’t think you get out of that by sulking, by making everything look dark and horrible. You need to look for the light.
“My focus is around my team. I maybe do myself a little disservice at times but I don’t care. I just want my team to win. I know we aren’t always going to please everybody and I understand that.
“If I wanted to be popular I would sell ice cream.
“I am not in a popular job if results go against you. But it doesn’t take away my passion for the job and the people I work for.”
Alexander added: “I am not a show pony. I don’t go on social media and I don’t kiss the badge.
“I don’t get involved in those cheap gimmicks. It’s not real.
“All I do is work my nuts off for the people I work for and with, who I have responsibility for.
“That’s enough for me and that makes me happy.”
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