Stuart Kettlewell says Motherwell’s hard-earned point at Celtic Park was down to a complete lack of ‘ego’ in their ranks.
The Fir Park manager hammered home to his players that their gameplan hinged on being utterly selfless against the Premiership champions-elect. Their task was made all the more difficult when Callum McGregor fired the league leaders into an early advantage.
But a dazzling solo goal from Kevin van Veen after the interval dragged Motherwell level and they held on to become the first Scottish team to take points from Celtic at their Parkhead fortress this season. A delighted Kettlewell gave his team huge credit for not crumbling when McGregor’s long-range effort deflected past Liam Kelly.
And he believes the biggest factor behind the result, one that keeps them 10 points away from bottom place, was being willing to suffer for the cause against the country’s top team.
"The biggest thing for me is not having an ego and it's something I believe in so much.
"For us to set ourselves up and play the way we did today, if one player has an ego, the whole thing falls down and Celtic comfortably win that game.
"That's the bit that pleased me, and that's when you know you've got buy-in.
"It's so easy to crumble, and even with their goal it's a deflected shot that I think Liam Kelly gathers, and you're right, you can go under, you can feel sorry for yourself.
"I'm just delighted for the players, delighted that they bought into what we asked them to do today and for that longer period for myself, and that run of form we've been on.
"I think it's a different test when you come to a place like this and you play against that level of opposition."
