Dundee United cup tie is a massive opportunity that we must grab, says Motherwell boss

Stuart Kettlewell says players might not have many chances to reach cup semi-finals

Stuart Kettlewell knows his Motherwell side face a massive challenge when they come up against Dundee United in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final tonight – but has told them to grab the opportunity.

Kettlewell reckons the Tangerines are a massive club, but says players might not have that many chances in their careers to reach a Hampden semi-final.

And Kettlewell says in a money-centric world, silverware and cup runs are still more important than win bonuses and contracts.

“This club has some real good history going there [Hampden], there has been some unbelievable backing and some amazing memories along the way," he said.

“I speak about that as if it’s going to be a simple task – it’s going to be an incredibly difficult one.

“Dundee United are a good side, they’re really well organised, they’ve got some good players, and they look as if they’ve done some shrewd business.

“You talk about a team jumping up from the Championship, but I think we all know that Dundee United are a very big club in this country. They always have been, probably always will be.

“We know what to expect and how difficult a challenge it’s going to be, and for us to start thinking about anything else and getting carried away would just be really naive.

“We need to concentrate on being our best version.

“But as we all say as managers, how many opportunities do you have to go on cup runs throughout the average career?

“I always talk to players about not wasting those opportunities.”

Jim Goodwin’s side come to ML1 on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Rangers on Sunday, while Motherwell lost 2-1 at Aberdeen a day earlier, with the Steelmen looking to reach a showpiece game for the first time in six years.

Kettlewell said: "I think 2018 was the last time Motherwell were at Hampden. Undoubtedly you want to get to the dying embers of cup competitions and you want to try and give your supporters that day out and an opportunity to get involved in it.

“Some guys in our group have experienced it several times, there are some that haven’t, people who are new to Scottish football.

“It’s a place that has a special place in my heart, from growing up as a young player at Queen’s Park, not in front of huge crowds, but it was my backdrop and my education in the game.

“I’ve always had this desperate desire as a player, coach or manager to make sure that you get involvement in big games there and you want to try and get there, without getting carried away with ourselves.”

Kettlewell is aware of the prestige and financial reward of a League Cup semi-final, but says the focus is often removed from the game itself.

He said: “I think sometimes we just look at the monetary aspect of football. We look at people wanting security, look at win bonuses, and all these different things, but your career is defined by success – that’s how I look at it.

“All the good things in football happen off the back of success. I certainly wasn’t the greatest player in the world, but I’m proud as punch of the medals that I was able to win and promotions and various different things that I’ve been able to achieve.

“Those are the things that I am genuinely most proud of, and trying to get players into that mind-set tends to breed success, because you’ve got a real hunger for it.

“There’s no substitute for those memories, those bits of success, and for me what that starts to build on your CV.

“How do you write on your CV about contracts, money, cars and all these things?

“Silverware was always, and still is to my mind the most important thing, and what every single football player, coach or manager should be striving for.

“In the game on Friday we give ourselves a chance to take another step on that journey.”

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