Motherwell supporters are already plotting travel routes to Freiburg, buoyed by a memorable European run that has put the Conference League firmly within reach. But manager Alfred Johansson, the calm Swede steering the club's fortunes, insists his attention lies squarely on Sunday's Scottish League Cup tie against Stenhousemuir.
Johansson's priorities were clear even before Wednesday night's action began, having tended to his young children so his wife could catch up on sleep. Hours later, he was all smiles as Fir Park erupted following a 2-0 victory over HJK Helsinki, sealing a 3-1 aggregate win and sending Motherwell into raptures under the floodlights.
The headline act was Ibrahim Said, whose two brilliant solo goals lit up the occasion. The Nigerian forward has drawn comparisons to elite talent, with former Motherwell player Andy Halliday suggesting he would "be playing for Barcelona if he could score." Johansson himself praised the performance, calling Said "outstanding" as fans celebrated deep into the night.
Yet true to form, Johansson refused to be swept up in talk of Freiburg or the wider European picture. His attention remains fixed on domestic matters, with the trip to Ochilview to face Stenhousemuir now the sole item on his agenda. It is a trait that has defined his short tenure so far — six matches unbeaten since taking over from Jens Berthel Askou, who departed for Toulouse after a hugely admired single season in charge.
Replacing Askou was never going to be straightforward. The Dane had built a reputation well beyond Lanarkshire for his footballing philosophy and man-management, and several of his key players — including Elijah Just, Elliot Watt, Callum Slattery and Calum Ward — also moved on during the summer. Despite this upheaval, Johansson has continued the club's momentum almost seamlessly.
Halliday, who played under Askou during his final season at the club, believes the transition has worked because "a lot of the fundamentals are very similar" under the new manager. Speaking on BBC Sportsound, he praised the club's broader model, saying: "I love what Motherwell stand for, how progressive they are, trying to do it a completely different way that's proven, surely to everyone, that it can work. Squad development, the youth academy, playing a brilliant brand of football and the fact they lost a fantastic coach and manager last year to go out and recruit similar, I love it."
Halliday did add a note of caution, suggesting that reinforcements — particularly in attack — could elevate Motherwell even further. "In wider Scottish football, I hope people sit up and take note of what they're doing," he said. "I really hope they sign one or two more players at the top end of the pitch, because if they do that, I think they could be every bit as good as last year."
Johansson's refusal to look beyond the next fixture has become something of a trademark. Ahead of the Helsinki tie, he spoke only of the upcoming league game against Falkirk, and even after Said's dazzling brace, he tempered praise by noting the forward "didn't manage to show his offensive skills" in the previous weekend's match.
What he does allow himself to enjoy is the club's remarkable support. More than 8,000 fans packed Fir Park for the Helsinki win, a figure Johansson described as among the best attendances the club has seen in the modern era. "I'm so pleased, happy and proud to be a part of that," he said. "When you're in the dugout and the players play on the pitch, there's an energy at Fir Park that transmits down to the pitch. It makes us better, it makes us stronger."
That energy will be called upon again soon, with another home European tie to follow before the squad heads to Germany. For now, though, Johansson's message is simple: Stenhousemuir first. "A final for us," he said.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.